cows (yellow-red-green) 1912 Franz Marc (1880-1916)

The composition presents two bovine figures rendered in a highly stylized and abstracted manner. The artist has eschewed naturalistic representation, opting instead for bold color blocks and simplified forms. One animal is predominantly yellow with touches of orange, while the other displays a vibrant red hue. Both are depicted in dynamic poses, seemingly engaged in an interaction – perhaps a playful tussle or a display of dominance – though their exact relationship remains ambiguous due to the lack of detail.
The background is equally non-representational, composed of dark greens and blacks punctuated by areas of lighter green that suggest foliage or perhaps a stylized landscape. The forms appear flattened, lacking depth or perspective in a conventional sense. This contributes to an overall feeling of spatial ambiguity; it’s difficult to discern the setting beyond the immediate vicinity of the animals.
The color palette is striking and emotionally charged. The use of yellow and red – colors often associated with energy, vitality, and even aggression – suggests a heightened emotional intensity within the scene. The dark background serves to amplify these colors, creating a sense of drama and confinement.
Beyond the surface depiction, the work seems to explore themes of primal instinct and raw emotion. The animals are stripped of their individual identities, becoming symbols of fundamental forces rather than specific creatures. Their interaction, though unclear in its nature, hints at underlying tensions and power dynamics. The simplification of form and the emphasis on color suggest a move away from objective representation towards an exploration of subjective experience and emotional expression. It’s possible to interpret this as a commentary on humanitys connection to nature, or perhaps a reflection of anxieties surrounding modernity and the loss of traditional values.

The artist’s choice to depict these animals in such a manner suggests a deliberate attempt to evoke feeling rather than convey information.