Franz Marc’s artwork titled “Two Horses, Red and Blue” was created in 1912 and is associated with the Cubist movement. Measuring 44.45 x 38.1 cm, this work is classified within the genre of animal painting. It currently resides in the Rhode Island School of Design Museum (RISD Museum) located in Providence, RI, US.
The artwork presents a dynamic composition in which the two horses are abstracted into bold, geometric shapes. The use of vibrant primary colors—the red and blue of the horses’ bodies—contributes to the intense emotional impact of the painting. The fragmented forms and angles typical of Cubism are evident in the way Marc has deconstructed and reassembled the figures and the space around them. Despite the abstraction, the essence of the animals is captured with energy and movement. The background is also composed of various planes of color that intersect and overlap, echoing the fragmented appearance of the subjects. Marc’s innovative approach to depicting the natural world points to a transcendent understanding of these creatures beyond their physical form, exploring their spiritual essence.
