35791 Franz Marc (1880-1916)

The composition presents a group of horses rendered in a highly stylized and expressive manner. The animals occupy the majority of the canvas, their forms dominating the foreground. They are depicted from behind, which obscures any detailed facial features or individual characteristics, emphasizing instead their collective power and mass. Their bodies are constructed with broad, sweeping brushstrokes, creating a sense of movement and energy despite their static positioning. A palette dominated by warm yellows and oranges defines the horses coloration, contrasted against a background of deep blues and purples.
The backdrop is not realistically portrayed; it consists of simplified shapes suggesting a landscape – a band of blue representing the sky transitions into a pinkish-purple area, punctuated with cloud-like forms rendered in white and grey. This abstraction contributes to an overall feeling of dreamlike unreality. The horizon line appears elevated, further compressing the space and intensifying the focus on the equine figures.
The artist’s choice to depict the horses from behind invites contemplation about themes of strength, resilience, and perhaps even a sense of impending threat or unknown future. Their unified posture suggests solidarity or shared purpose, while their obscured faces allow for multiple interpretations – they could represent any group facing adversity or embodying collective power. The vibrant color scheme amplifies the emotional intensity of the scene, conveying a feeling that is both powerful and unsettling.
The lack of detail and the simplification of forms suggest an interest in expressing emotion and essence rather than literal representation. This approach moves beyond mere depiction towards a symbolic exploration of primal forces and shared experience.