Red Deer II

Franz Marc (1880-1916) was a German Expressionist painter influenced by Cubism, Futurism and Symbolism. Through tender depictions of animals and natural scenes, Marc expressed his reverence for peace and nature. In his eyes, nature was a spiritual remedy to the toxic state of the modern world. This was a profound message for Europe on the brink of WWI.

Marc's dreamlike paintings convey his hopeful vision of the future, using primary colours to symbolise a profound sense of emotion. The artist's theory of colour associated blue with masculinity, yellow with femininity, and red with violence - symbols which endure today.