Blue Horse I
The artist
Franz Marc, a German painter who loved animals and painted them in bold, unusual colors.
What you see
A young blue horse standing with its head bowed, set against rolling hills of red, yellow, and green.
The story
Marc painted it in 1911 because he felt animals were pure and gentle, and he gave them colors to match their feelings.
The style
For Marc, blue meant calm and kindness, so the peaceful horse glows blue against the warm, glowing land.
Look closer
The horse looks soft and rounded, almost shy, as if it is quietly thinking while it rests among the colorful hills.
Where to see it
This painting is part of the Stadtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, an art museum in Munich, Germany.
Fun fact
Marc helped start an art group called The Blue Rider, and blue horses became one of his favorite subjects.