THE BLUE RIDER Franz Marc Once upon a

THE BLUE RIDER Franz Marc

• Once upon a time in the early 1900’s, a handful of young artists came together and painted very different pictures from those of earlier artists. This part of the story is about my favorite artist, Franz Marc…

• Together Franz Marc and Wassily Kandisky were leaders of this group who called themselves, “Blue Rider” because they loved both horses and the color blue. Marc and Kandinsky wrote a book, the Blaue Reiter Almanac, in which they explained their ideas about art.

• They painted pictures that confused people because there were yellow cows, green people, red trees, and blue horses in them, or just bright spots of color. • Their new art would take the world by storm.

The Yellow Cow Deer in the Forest II, 1912

Red Deer The Tiger 1912

Franz Marc almost always painted animals. He loved them more than people and was fascinated by their innocence: animals never pretend; they are always honest. Franz often wondered, “How does an animal see the world? ”

Fox Deer in a Monastery Garden

Horse were one of his favorite animals to draw.

This picture appears to be seen through a kaleidoscope, or in motion. The nervous fluttering of the bird breaks into splinters of different colors. Can you find two other birds?

Monkeys, 1911

Steer

Fighting Forms, 1914

Franz and Maria Marc and their dog Russi.

In 1914, when World War I broke out, everything ended. The Russian members of Blue Rider had to leave Germany. Franz Marc and his friend August Macke served as soldiers in the war. They died on the battlefield in France. Macke was only 27 and Franz Marc was only 36. This picture by Blue Rider, Paul Klee shows the ghastly, lifeless emptiness left by the war.

The Blue Rider’s brilliant pictures are admired throughout the world today. They are some of the most beautiful pictures of all time. They are carefully preserved at a gallery called Lenbachhaus, in Munich, Germany. There they hang on blue, red, or yellow walls. After the war, the remaining three members, Alexej Jawlensky, Wassily Kandinsky, and Paul Klee met up in Weimar, Germany. Together with a new painter, Lyonel Feininger, they established a new group called The Blue Four …but that is another story.

Images and information obtained from, “The Blue Rider”, Adventures in Art Series by Prestel, and art. com website.

The Dream

“Rebel Without a Cause” Majestic and Playful Proud, Spirited and Extraordinary Colors of Joy Painted with Vibrant Energy And Freedom of Expression Filled with Ecstasy. A Gleeful Romp through the Meadow Prancing and Dancing Bold and Beautiful You Non-Conformist Cow An original poem by Candace Kman 2003.

THE END