The Tower of Blue Horses (sketch) 1912

Curator: Here we have Franz Marc’s "The Tower of Blue Horses," a watercolor and pencil sketch from 1912. It currently resides in the Bavarian State Painting Collections in Munich. Editor: It feels melancholic, almost like looking at a hazy dream. The blue, though vibrant, has this weight to it, and those star-like markings on the horses—they seem less decorative and more like scars. Curator: Marc's use of color is certainly striking. The dominance of blue aligns with his exploration of color theory and its capacity to evoke specific emotions. Notice also how the geometric shapes are used to depict the animals, distilling their essence to basic forms. Editor: Absolutely, those simplified shapes give the horses this raw, elemental feel. But those details, they pierce through that abstraction, like little vulnerabilities. The positioning of the horses, closely packed together, creates a sense of interdependence, even if they're standing within this swirling landscape. What do you make of their upward gaze? Curator: That verticality, the tower-like structure, suggests aspiration. The horses, though grounded in their physicality, are looking toward something beyond—perhaps a spiritual plane or an idealized state of being. This aligns with the Expressionist desire to capture inner emotional and spiritual realities, not just external appearances. Editor: So much depth packed into what looks like a quick study. It's amazing how much feeling comes through—defiance and fragility mingling together in a world tinged with sadness. Curator: Indeed, this sketch provides an intriguing glimpse into Marc's artistic process and his deep connection with the natural world and its symbolic possibilities. Editor: It really does make you think about what we project onto animals and how they reflect our own internal landscapes back at us. Powerful stuff.