“Blue Horse I” is an emblematic artwork created by the German expressionist painter Franz Marc in 1911. This painting employs oil on canvas as its medium and measures 112.5 x 84.5 cm. It is recognized as a significant work within the symbolic painting genre and showcases the distinct characteristics of the Expressionism movement. Currently, the artwork is housed in the Lenbachhaus in Munich, Germany.
The artwork depicts a solitary blue horse standing in a profile stance. True to the expressionist style, the animal is rendered with bold, simplified shapes and surrounded by vibrant, non-naturalistic colors. The overall composition shuns realistic representation in favor of conveying emotional resonance and spiritual meaning, traits that are typical of Marc’s approach to painting. The blue of the horse against the patchwork of vividly colored abstract forms in the background gives the painting a dreamlike and evocative quality, exemplifying Marc’s intent to transcend the mundane reality and to evoke a deeper connection with nature and its creatures.
