Because he died so young – only 36, still in the upward arc of his art – you won’t find a lot of Franz Marc’s creations in museums and galleries. But a painting in the modern art rooms in the Metropolitan Museum of Art caught my eye. I stood in front of it, absorbing his luminous use of color, and when I got home, I searched. What I found was not enlightening. Instead, I saw a forceful, tragic argument for the end of wars.
by David Stone
Franz Marc was a brilliant painter whose life was cut short by an injury in World War I. He saw the world in a unique and beautiful way, and his paintings reflect his passion for life and his deep respect for nature.
See also:
- Mary Cassatt’s Wonderful World of Painting in Paris
- The Great Henri Cartier-Bresson, Father of Street Photography
However, the horrors of war robbed him of his life and us of his future art. His death is a sobering reminder of the brutal costs of war because it contrasts a love of life with its destruction.
Exuberant artistic expression contrasted against a massive killing field is a reminder that war disregards every value. The shoemaker, the grocer, the insurance agent – no one is spared.
Off to War
When Franz Marc was drafted into the German army at the start of World War I, he had no idea of the horrors that awaited him. He quickly found himself amid brutal combat.
In 1916, he was hit in the head by shrapnel from a shell explosion, and he died instantly.
Franz Marc’s death is a heartbreaking example of the human cost of war. His life was cut short at the age of 36, just as he was reaching the height of his creative powers.
Germany also lost over two-million other young men in World War I. Virtually none ever reached their potential, an incalculable loss to Germany and the world.
The loss of so many young people is a devastating blow to any nation, and it is a tragic reminder of the human toll that war takes.
Worse yet, most scholars consider WW I a useless war without any good cause or benefit. It was a tragic and pointless waste of human life.
A Franz Marc Perspective
The paintings of Franz Marc offer us a glimpse into his soulful and sensitive worldview, and they remind us of the beauty that can be found even in tragedy.
His work will continue to inspire future generations, but we can never forget the price that he paid for serving his country in a foolish war.
Franz Marc’s death is a stark reminder of the terrible cost of war. It serves as a lasting memorial to all those who have been lost in battle.
