plate no. 5665

The Lamplighter

Sandor Bortnyik, 1921

oilCubismportraitfigurebuildingscityscapelamplightportraitmoon

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand geometric abstraction and how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve subtle tonal 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 shapes and composition lightly on the canvas, focusing on the geometric forms.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then the figure.
step 03
Mix the various shades of brown for the figure, paying attention to the subtle tonal changes.
step 04
Add the details of the buildings and lamplights, using precise lines and shapes.
step 05
Create the moon with a soft, blended effect, using light blue and white.
step 06
Refine the edges of the shapes and add any final details.
step 07
Add the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Let the painting dry completely and then apply a varnish for protection.

color palette

primary · brown · blue · red · yellow

secondary · green · white · black

Mix browns by combining burnt umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of black or blue. Achieve the various blues by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of black or yellow. The reds are achieved with cadmium red light.

techniques