Product Description

Like no other artist, Franz Marc pursued the representation of the horse-a central topic in the fine arts-as his life's work. As a painter and co-founder of the 'Blauer Reiter' he created symbolic, visionary images which today stand among the icons of modernism. This publication presents an overview of Marc's paintings, drawings, gouaches and a number of famous postcards-from his nature studies of 1905 and 1906 to the sketches he made on the eve of World War I. During this short period of time, the horse motif became increasingly central, especially after Marc moved from Munich to the secluded Upper Bavarian village of Sindelsdorf. With a skill for precise observation and intuitive understanding, Marc attempted an "animalization of art," in which the horse became both subject and expression of the hope for better and more organic existence. Featuring gorgeous reproductions in full color-as well as several essays exploring myriad facets of Marc's work-"Franz Marc: Horses" is a brilliant and enlightening look at an artist whose oeuvre is one of the most original in the world of 20th century art.
Hardcover, 9 x 11 inches, 284 pages, 167 color and 64 black & white illustrations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1327220 in Books
• Published on: 2000-10-02
• Released on: 2000-10-02
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: German
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 284 pages

From Library Journal
In paintings, drawings, and other works on paper from 1905 to 1916, German artist Franz Marc attempted to convey the spiritual essence of animals particularly horses through empathy, symbolic color, and form. This book surveys these works, offering 231 illustrations (167 in color) and a series of essays about the artist and his approach to the horse. The main essay by Von Holst (curator of the related exhibition at the Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart) and chapters by four of his German colleagues discuss Marc's unique adaptation in different media of influences from Post-Impressionism through Orphism. The introduction by Peter Nisbet (curator, Busch-Reisinger Museum, Harvard) explains that this English translation was published in conjunction with Harvard's smaller version of the Stuttgart exhibit. The bibliography lists mostly German sources; other English-language books on the artist include Mark Rosenthal's Franz Marc (LJ 3/15/90) and Helmut Friedel and Annegret Hoberg's The Blue Rider in the Lenbachhaus, Munich (LJ 6/1/01). Recommended for academic and public libraries. Anne Marie Lane, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

About the Author
Franz Marc (Munich 1880-1916 near Verdun) began his studies at the Munich Academy in 1900 and worked in the style of Munich landscape painting. Early work reveals in its form and construction that he already possessed an astonishing mastery of traditional artistic means. From summer 1902 onwards, increasingly self-taught, he worked at Kochel in Upper Bavaria. As a young man Marc traveled on a study trip to Paris where he saw Impressionism and the work of Vincent Van Gogh. Upon his return to Germany he devoted himself primarily to illustrations of poems by Richard Dehmel, Carmen Sylva, Hans Bethge and others. Marc became acquainted with the artist August Macke in 1910 and by 1911 he founded the "Blaue Reiter" group with Wassily Kandinsky.

" Know, my friends, what images are: the experience of surfacing in another."-Franz Marc

Customer Reviews

Exceptional art book
Even though I'm a professional artist, I don't normally buy art books of this sort (display books about a single artist). And I'm not even all that big a fan of the art of Franz Marc, although I do have some interest in his painting. However, this book really stands out. The reproductions are absolutely exquisite, with rich colors and good detail, and the pages themselves, physically, have a nice texture to them. Additionally, a lot of the pictures that are included in the book aren't all that familiar and are not usually seen in books about the artist. The writings about and by the artist are also very insightful and made me want to know more about him, and to really care about his work in a way I never had before. This is an exceptionally beautiful art book, and if you like the work of Franz Marc you will love this.