You already know that at Canvas by Numbers, we are passionate about paint by numbers for adults. And, of course, we are also passionate about great artists and their works, like Franz Marc.
For us, turning an image with artistic value into a paint by numbers canvas is a real delight, especially when you can admire the original hanging on the walls of some of the world's best museums.
In our collection of famous paintings, you'll find a wide variety of artists and themes, and, of course, we couldn't leave out works of art from the great masters of German Expressionism, like Franz Marc.
Whether this painting is familiar to you or you are just discovering it now, we can already tell you that it doesn't leave anyone indifferent. That's why we suggest that when choosing your next painting, you pick expressionist paintings, specifically one of Franz Marc's works.
What is Expressionist Painting?
Without going into the details of an "art class," we can define it as an artistic movement that aims to capture the emotion the artist feels when painting what they see on the canvas. It finds its basis in Monet's Impressionism and Van Gogh's Post-Impressionism.
In other words, it's about conveying feelings and emotions onto the canvas, not the reality as it is perceived, as done by realist painters. It's not about accurately reflecting what everyone sees (e.g., a portrait that looks almost like a photograph) but about conveying the artist's unique interpretation when looking at the subject.
Expressionist painting emerged in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century and is considered a precursor to modern and avant-garde painting. Great artists of the movement include August Macke, Wassily Kandinsky, and the aforementioned Edward Munch.
Who was the painter Franz Marc, and why did we choose him?
Franz Marc was a fascinating character, an indefatigable dreamer and the creator of works of undeniable artistic value.
He was born in Munich (Germany) in 1880 and died in France at the age of 36. Like other artists of his generation, he died on the battlefield during World War I.
At the beginning of the 20th century, in 1911, he founded the group "The Blue Rider" along with August Macke and Wassily Kandinsky. They were artists seeking to revitalize art through spirituality and the enhancement of the inner self.
Marc believed that works created from emotion and feeling, which go beyond depicting the reality we see, would transcend the barrier of time and be appreciated in any era.
And he was right, as Franz Marc's artworks are displayed in the world's best museums, and more than a century after his death, they continue to move those who contemplate them.
Franz Marc's Artworks
Franz Marc's cataloged artworks include up to 244 paintings. Among them, the most famous are portraits of animals painted with vivid colors and artistic simplicity.
For the German painter, animals were more worthy of being portrayed than humans, and they soon became the absolute protagonists of his art. The animals that Franz Marc portrayed in his works display colors far from the objective reality of the animals themselves: a blue horse, a yellow cow, a yellow cat, and so on. Another hallmark of Expressionism.
He assigned symbolic meanings to colors, in his own words:
"Blue is the male principle, a mixture, and spiritual. Yellow is the female principle, soft, cheerful, and sensual. Red is the material, brutal, and heavy. Red must always be fought and overcome with the other two."
The Blue Horse
"The Blue Horse" is one of Franz Marc's most representative artworks. The animal and the background behind it are created using geometric shapes (squares, rhombuses, etc.). The dominant color of the horse in the painting is blue, representing masculinity.
Cat on a Yellow Cushion
The painter had a special love for cats. In his work "Cat on a Yellow Cushion," Marc shows us a cat reclining on a yellow cushion, the color of the feminine spirit.
Dog Lying in the Snow
In the work "Dog Lying in the Snow," the animal is in harmony with nature and is painted almost cubist, yet maintaining its natural contour. Once again, the color is yellow.
The Yellow Cow
Based on the symbolism of color and Franz Marc's love for animals, you can play with a free interpretation of some of his works.
The Yellow Cow (Guggenheim Museum in New York) was created by the painter in 1911, the year he got married.
The undisputed focus is on one of his beloved animals, which the artist recreates in intense yellow, the color of the feminine spirit. The cow appears happy against a backdrop of blue mountains. Blue is the male principle, and the cow has blue spots on its skin... What does it suggest to you?
Painting a Franz Marc Artwork by Numbers
Now that you know more about Franz Marc's works, would you like to try painting one of them by numbers?
Visit the Franz Marc collection and paint by numbers one of the most famous works of the German expressionist. You can also find some of this famous painter's works in our Diamond Paintings collection—another fun and relaxing way to create a painting!
