Franz Marcsexpressive style was profound in his interest in spirituality and the symbolicuse of colors while reflecting his love for animals andthe symbolic use of colors. At the later period of his life, Marcgot greatly influenced by the prominent war propaganda right before the startof the Great War.
Such as many other artists and writers, he glorified theupcoming war as a ” Purification” and a “blood sacrifice”. He believed the warcould save and relieve Europe from its modernity that had led to an increase ofmaterialism and a lack of spirituality. It was in this period of time when heproduced his very final painting fightingforms (1914), which expresses the great conflict between good and evil.During the same year he then voluntarily enlisted for the military service ofGermany. However, in 1906 Germany acknowledged him as one of the country`s mostimportant artists and hence had to be released from the military service. Neverthe less, on his last day of duty on March the forth 1916 Marc got fatallyinjured during the battle of Verdun and hence died soon after.
Franz Marc was born and raised in Munichand under the influence of his father, who happened to be an amateur landscapepainter, his artistic talent was encouraged already on a young age. His earlypaintings contained a rather academic realistic style, that was him told at theMunich Academy of art. Not beingfully satisfied with the style that was him told, Marc got familiar with the Jugendstil art movement, which wasfamous for embracing the idea of expressive lines being used to describestructures and forms being found in nature. Fascinated by this ratherdecorative style Marc followed a more modern approach using simplified linesand lucid colors. While studying modern and impressionist art in Paris (1903)he got familiar with the French artist Jean Niestle, who`s art was popular forportraying animals with an expressive style. Arguably, due to Niestle`sinfluence and his own passion for animals Marc started illustrating them in hisown work with a similar but yet a unique style of his own.
When traveling toParis in 1907 another time he encountered the artwork of Vincent van Gough, whose emotional and dynamic brushstrokes impressedhim. Van Goughs influence on Franz Marc is particularly noticeably in.
