plate no. 4664

The Ladies on the Bridge

Edvard Munch, 1903

oil, canvasExpressionismgenre paintingfiguresbridgebuildingsskywatertrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and simplifying complex forms into expressive shapes and brushstrokes. It also provides practice in mixing subtle color variations within a limited palette.

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 figures, bridge, and buildings.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of color, starting with the sky and water.
step 03
Establish the values on the bridge and the figures' clothing, paying attention to the light source.
step 04
Add details to the buildings and trees in the background, simplifying their forms.
step 05
Refine the shapes and colors of the figures, focusing on their gestures and expressions.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Develop the texture of the bridge using visible brushstrokes.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and expressive painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · Prussian blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix various shades of white with small amounts of umber, blue, and ochre to create the subtle variations in the figures' clothing. Use red and ochre to create the warm tones of the bridge. Mix black with blue or umber for the darker areas.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a clear light source and creating flat, uninteresting forms.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them to create subtle variations.
→Not simplifying the background elements and making them too distracting.