plate no. 4199

View of the Banks of the Oise

Henri Rousseau, 1906

oil, canvasNaïve Art (Primitivism)landscapetreesskylandscapehaystacksfoliageclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex forms and practice layering colors to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering foliage and basic atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and placement of major elements like the tree and haystacks.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, adding hints of white for clouds.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees and foliage using a dark green mixture.
step 04
Add lighter greens and yellows to the foliage to create highlights and variations.
step 05
Paint the tree trunk and branches, paying attention to the simplified shapes.
step 06
Create the haystacks with a warm yellow-brown, adding shadows to define their form.
step 07
Refine the details of the foliage and haystacks, adding texture and highlights.
step 08
Add final touches to the sky and foreground to balance the composition.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Yellow Ochre · Sap Green · Titanium White

secondary · Burnt Sienna · Cadmium Yellow

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Browns are achieved by mixing complementary colors (blue and orange).

techniques