Book Description

Now available in paperback, this overview of a brief but brilliant career focuses on the symbolic poignancy of Franz Marc’s paintings and his underlying vision of a world populated largely by animals.

Before his tragic death at Verdun in 1916, Franz Marc made an enormous contribution to German Expressionist painting. A co-founder with Wassily Kandinsky of the Blue Rider Group, Marc and his fellow artists sought to make sense of the destruction around them through symbolism and abstraction.

The curator of America’s first exhibition of Marc’s paintings, Marc Rosenthal offers penetrating insight into the artist’s transcendent paintings, in which feelings of despair and exaltation are brought to life through images of animals, landscapes, and pure abstraction. Seventy-one full-color plates demonstrate the brilliant tones and bold style that characterize Marc’s work. The accompanying text provides an important biographical perspective and critical appraisal of one of the most significant artists to emerge amid the chaos of early twentieth century Europe. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The magic modern german art.
I found in Amazon this great book, of one of the most important painters that headed the modern art in painting in germany. It is very difficult to find books from this artist, part of the Blue Rider Grup (Der Blaue Reiter). So it is great that amazon provided us with such a treasure. ... Read more

Book 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. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

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. ... Read more

Book Description