Ruhende Pferde 1912

Franz Marc made this woodcut of resting horses with simple tools and a block of wood. The process is right there on the surface, isn’t it? You can almost feel the gouge in the wood. The image is stark, just black and white. But look how much he gets out of the contrast. The horses are intertwined, their forms simplified into these bold, almost abstract shapes. The way the black carves out the white creates a push and pull, a rhythm. I’m drawn to the horse on the left. Its head is tilted down, almost melancholic. That one shape tells you everything you need to know about rest, about peace. This print reminds me of Gauguin’s woodcuts, that same directness, that same feeling of carving an image straight from the soul. It’s a reminder that art doesn't have to be complicated to be powerful. It's about seeing and feeling, then finding a way to make that visible.