plate no. 6691

Theatre du Vaudeville

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapestreetbuildingsfigurescarriagestrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections on wet surfaces. It also provides practice in painting figures in motion and suggesting detail with loose brushwork.

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 major elements like buildings, figures, and carriages.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of warm and cool grays, paying attention to the light source.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings and figures, using darker values for shadows and lighter values for highlights.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, architectural features, and signage.
step 05
Refine the figures, suggesting details of clothing and facial features with quick, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the reflections on the wet street, using broken color and soft edges to create a sense of movement and atmosphere.
step 07
Add the bare tree branches and falling leaves, using a fine brush and a limited palette of browns and grays.
step 08
Apply final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · ivory black

Achieve the atmospheric grays by mixing ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red to create warm highlights and the glow of the streetlights.

techniques