Franz Marc

Franz Marc was a German painter, one of the key figures of the German Expressionist movement. He was a founding member of Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), a journal whose name later became synonymous with the circle of artists collaborating in it.

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Franz Marc – Blue Horses

This beautiful art expressionist painting by German master Franz Marc is available on shirts, mugs, tote bags and stationary. Just click on the image to see our great selection of high quality products.

Franz Marc – Foxes

Franz Marc – Fate of Animals

Franz Marc – Monkey Frieze

Franz Marc – Red Horses

Franz Marc – The Bewitched Mill

Franz Marc – Tiger

Franz Marc Biography

Franz Marc is undoubtedly one of the most famous German Expressionist artists, known for his depiction of animals in their natural settings. He was born in 1880 in Munich and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts also in Munich, starting 1900. He had been influenced by many painters like Van Gogh and Gauguin at a very young age. His paintings were that of animals representing everything that was lacking in the world; things like innocence and freedom from materialism and corruption. He, through his paintings, wanted to achieve a spirituality which he could never find.

He first discovered the Impressionists on his visit to Paris, where he went to the Durand Ruel Gallery. He was entranced by the work of Van Gogh and Gauguin and felt that impressionism would help him and other artists achieve salvation. Franz Marc’s painting revealed what was going on in his mind. The use of colors in his paintings is not only symbolic but also liberal. They were meant to represent the complete harmony and balance of the animals with nature, something that was sadly lacking at the time due to the political tension in Europe, which eventually led to the First World War. He is perhaps most noted for the organization founded by him and fellow painter Wassily Kandinsky, Der Blaue Reiter group. It was a group of expressionist painters with many famous painters like August Macke, Gabriele Munter, Albert Bloch and Paul Klee.

Frank Marc had a very promising career, though his personal life was in shambles. He was depressed and had a number of affairs. He even got married twice. There was some improvement in his life, thanks to Der Blaue Reiter. As a printer he even started the famous Der Blaue Reiter journal in 1911. His paintings are characterized by the bright and moderate use of colors. Marc was one of the most influential expressionist painters. His work had begun to be recognized during his lifetime among many influential people. His career was brutally cut short due to the First World War. He enlisted in the army and was killed at the Battle of Verdun near France. His name was on a list, which was made to protect certain artists; however, he died before he could be saved. His work is undoubtedly some of the best among expressionist painters. His most notable works are Tiger, Blue Horse, and Fates of the Animals.