plate no. 1283

Tour Eiffel

Filippo De Pisis, 1939

oilExpressionismcityscapeEiffel Towercityscapebuildingstreesskyfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise details. It also encourages simplification of complex structures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the Eiffel Tower and surrounding buildings, focusing on overall proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue and white, allowing it to blend loosely.
step 03
Using a large brush, apply broad strokes of white, gray, and black to define the buildings and tower, leaving gaps for implied detail.
step 04
Add darker values to create shadows and depth, especially in the foreground and around the buildings.
step 05
Use a smaller brush to add details like windows and architectural features with quick, gestural strokes.
step 06
Introduce touches of yellow and orange to suggest light and warmth in the trees and buildings.
step 07
Add small figures in the foreground using dark, simple shapes.
step 08
Refine the composition by adjusting values and adding final touches of color and texture.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · cerulean blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium orange

Mix various shades of gray by combining white and black. Use small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt umber to warm the grays and create subtle color variations.

techniques