plate no. 0105

The Last King

Alfred Kubin, 1902

oilSymbolismsymbolic paintingfigurethronecrowdtorchsmokefantasy

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating atmospheric perspective and rendering figures in a monochromatic palette. It also provides practice in cross-hatching and creating subtle tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the king, throne, crowd, and torch.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the painting, such as the throne and the shadows on the figures.
step 03
Begin layering lighter tones to create the mid-ground and background, using cross-hatching to build up value.
step 04
Pay close attention to the atmospheric perspective, making the background elements lighter and less detailed.
step 05
Refine the details of the king's figure and clothing, adding subtle highlights and shadows.
step 06
Render the torch and smoke, using delicate lines and shading to create a sense of movement.
step 07
Add final details and adjust the overall tonal balance of the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · payne's gray

Achieve the various shades of gray by gradually mixing black and white. Use Payne's gray for subtle cool tones in the shadows.

techniques

·cross-hatching
·atmospheric perspective
·tonal layering
·dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the background, which can flatten the perspective.
→Creating harsh lines instead of subtle tonal gradations.
→Failing to establish a strong value range, resulting in a flat and lifeless image.