plate no. 1717

Villa in Dresden

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, 1910

oil, canvasExpressionismcityscapebuildingtreesfiguresstreetcityscapesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to convey mood and texture. Students will also learn to mix colors to achieve a harmonious yet vibrant palette.

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: the house, trees, wall, and figures.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue, leaving some canvas showing through.
step 03
Apply the base colors for the house (green and blue for the roof), trees (red and green), and wall (orange).
step 04
Add darker values to define the shadows on the house, trees, and wall.
step 05
Introduce secondary colors and highlights to create depth and interest.
step 06
Use short, expressive brushstrokes to build texture and movement.
step 07
Paint the figures with simple shapes and colors.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Cadmium red · Cadmium yellow · Emerald green

secondary · Orange · Black · White

Mix greens by combining yellow and blue, and oranges by combining red and yellow. Use white to lighten colors and black to darken them. The painting uses a lot of broken color, so avoid over-mixing.

techniques