plate no. 6034

The Cherry Tree

Balthus, 1940

oil, canvasExpressionismlandscapetreeslandscapefigureladderfoliagehillside

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding how to represent light and shadow in a landscape. It also provides practice in depicting figures within a natural setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, figure, and ladder.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, hills, grass, and tree trunks.
step 03
Start layering the foliage, using different shades of green and yellow to create depth.
step 04
Paint the figure on the ladder, paying attention to the folds in the dress and the light on the skin.
step 05
Add details to the tree trunks, such as the bark texture and shadows.
step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 07
Add the small white flowers on the tree.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

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

secondary · cerulean blue · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and cerulean blue. Use raw umber and white for the tree trunks, adding touches of green and yellow for highlights. Mix alizarin crimson and ivory black for the dress.

techniques