plate no. 1779

The Toast

etching, paperRealismgenre paintingfiguresportraitsmenindoorsdrinkingetching

experienced study

Recreating this etching will help students understand line weight variation to create depth and form, as well as how to use hatching and cross-hatching to build value and texture. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and gesture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and background.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas with dense hatching, focusing on the figures' clothing and the background shadows.
step 03
Use varying line weights to define the contours of the figures and create a sense of depth.
step 04
Add cross-hatching to build up the mid-tones and create a sense of volume.
step 05
Pay close attention to the direction of the lines to convey the form of the objects.
step 06
Use lighter, more sparse lines to indicate highlights and areas of reflected light.
step 07
Refine the details of the faces and hands, paying attention to the expression and gesture.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust the overall balance of light and dark.