plate no. 0800

Terrace overlooking the flower garden in Wannsee

Max Liebermann, 1918

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapegardentreesbuildingfiguresflowersterrace

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as capturing the impression of light filtering through foliage. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into broad, expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the building, terrace, and trees.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in large areas of color, such as the sky, grass, and foliage.
step 03
Begin layering colors to create depth and dimension in the trees and foliage, using a variety of greens, yellows, and browns.
step 04
Add details to the building, including the windows, doors, and architectural features.
step 05
Paint the figures on the terrace, using small, gestural brushstrokes to capture their forms.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create contrast and dimension throughout the painting.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.
step 08
Add final touches, such as small details in the flowers and foliage.

color palette

primary · sap green · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue with varying amounts of white. Use burnt sienna and ultramarine blue to create darker shades for shadows. Add small amounts of cadmium red to greens to create warmer tones.

techniques