Two Blue Horses in front of Red Rock by Franz Marc

Two Blue Horses in Front of a Red Rock reflects the expressionist/ modernist style of Franz Marc

It is one of the postcards that Marc produced during his lifetime and this one was originally sent to Wassily Kandinski in 1913. Kandinski and Marc were both part of the Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) Journal and subsequent art movement.

This in turn came under the umbrella of the German expressionist art movement.

Franz Marc's postcards themselves are today considered amongst the most poetic of his works: tiny snapshots of his essence in beautifully bright colours. 'Two Blue Horses in Front of a Red Rock' is exactly what it says it is, but it is also so much more. Marc's work expresses in and of simplicity.

From the bright primary colours to the stark simplicity of the image to the almost cubist portrayal of the horses; the individual parts are uncomplicated and pleasing to look at yet they build a profound sense of emotion. The image is peaceful and calming, almost a glimpse of a different kind of life.

Typically Marc used colour to express emotional meaning, with blue representing masculinity and spirituality, yellow portraying feminine joy and red expressing the sound of violence. Seen from this angle, what was a pretty rural scene in 'Two Blue Horses in Front of a Red Rock' becomes something deeper and more challenging.

The masculinity of the horses looks subservient to the red rocks which in turn are surrounded by and overpowered by the yellow background. This is like the traditional gender roles turned upside down, with masculinity overpowered by and submissive before feminine joy- all expressed through a miniature painting of a peaceful country scene.