plate no. 1573

View of a Street at Hatvan

Bela Czobel, 1937

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingstreesstreetcityscapehousessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to convey texture and form. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve muted and harmonious tones.

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 buildings, trees, and street, focusing on overall composition.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the sky, buildings, and ground using thin washes.
step 03
Begin adding details to the buildings, defining rooflines and window shapes.
step 04
Develop the trees with short, broken brushstrokes, varying the greens and browns.
step 05
Refine the street and sidewalk areas, adding subtle variations in tone and texture.
step 06
Add small figures and details to suggest scale and activity.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to create a cohesive and atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and form.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · sap green · raw umber · cadmium red

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., a touch of red in the green for the trees) and using white to soften the intensity of the colors.

techniques