plate no. 4094

The Table in Front of the Picture

Juan Gris, 1926

oil, canvasCubismstill lifestill lifefruitbooktableknifedrapery

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex forms into geometric shapes and understanding how light and shadow interact with these forms. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve subtle tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch, breaking down the composition into basic geometric shapes.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of red-brown.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the table, picture frame, and bowl with simplified forms.
step 04
Add the drapery, focusing on the folds and shadows, using a limited palette of creams and grays.
step 05
Paint the fruit, paying attention to the subtle color variations and highlights.
step 06
Add the book and knife, focusing on their geometric shapes and textures.
step 07
Refine the details and edges, adjusting the values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · red-brown · cream · gray

secondary · green · yellow · black

Achieve the various shades of cream and gray by mixing titanium white with small amounts of burnt umber, yellow ochre, and ultramarine blue. The red-brown background can be created by mixing burnt sienna with a touch of alizarin crimson and black.

techniques