Genesis II 1914

Franz Marc made this print, Genesis II, at some point in his short but intensely creative life. The color palette is really pared back, mostly dark blues and yellows with a hint of green, and the way he’s used these colours feels almost symbolic, like he’s trying to tap into some primal energy. Looking closely, you can really see the physicality of the medium. The texture is so present, with each line and shape clearly carved into the woodblock. The whole composition is like a puzzle of interlocking forms, and notice how the dark areas create this feeling of depth and mystery. Then you get these bursts of yellow, like flashes of light breaking through. This reminds me a little of Kandinsky, actually, with the way he uses abstraction to evoke spiritual or emotional states. With both artists, it's never about the finished product, but more about the ongoing conversation between materials, marks, and ideas.