plate no. 5644

Unter den Linden

Lesser Ury, 1922

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapestreethorsescarriagefiguresrain

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections on a wet surface. It also provides practice in suggesting detail with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and perspective lines of the street and buildings.
step 02
Establish the basic value structure with thin washes of diluted paint, focusing on the overall light and dark areas.
step 03
Block in the larger shapes of the horses, carriage, and figures with simplified forms and colors.
step 04
Begin adding details to the focal point (the horse-drawn carriage) using thicker paint and more defined brushstrokes.
step 05
Create the reflections on the wet street by pulling down the colors and shapes of the objects above, using vertical strokes and softening the edges.
step 06
Add highlights to the reflections to enhance the sense of wetness and luminosity.
step 07
Refine the details of the figures and buildings in the background, keeping them soft and indistinct to create atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Add final touches and adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of the secondary colors. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create a range of browns and grays.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·implied detail

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Making the reflections too sharp and defined, which will detract from the sense of wetness.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, which will make the painting look flat.
→Not simplifying the forms and colors of the background elements, which will flatten the perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, ivory black, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags

optional

·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
·varnish

Use a medium-grit canvas for a slightly textured surface. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., with a thin wash of raw umber) to establish a base tone.

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