plate no. 9948

Woman with Book

Georges Braque, 1945

oil, canvasCubismgenre paintingfigurestill lifebookguitartableinterior

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students understand cubist abstraction and how to break down complex forms into geometric shapes. 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. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and still life elements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figure and objects.
step 03
Refine the shapes and add details, paying attention to the overlapping planes and geometric forms.
step 04
Mix and apply subtle variations in color to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the contrast and create a sense of volume.
step 06
Define the edges of the shapes with darker or lighter tones to create separation.
step 07
Add the details of the guitar and book, simplifying them into geometric forms.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition, making sure the colors and shapes are balanced.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Burnt umber · Yellow ochre · Titanium white

secondary · Sap green · Cadmium red light · Payne's gray

Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre, prussian blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve the browns by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and a touch of red. Use white to lighten the colors and create subtle variations in tone.

techniques