Drei Katzen

Drei Katzen is a seminal painting created by Franz Marc in 1913. Executed in oil on canvas, this work belongs to the critical final period of the artist's career, just before the outbreak of World War I. This piece showcases Marc’s distinctive approach to color symbolism and abstraction, focusing on the intimate, spiritual connection between animals and the natural world. Instead of traditional academic representation, the painting abstracts the three feline subjects into interlocking planes of vibrant, non-local color.

Marc, a leading figure of the influential German Expressionist group Der Blaue Reiter, sought to use heightened, expressive color to convey the inner, spiritual reality of his subjects, rejecting merely optical observation. The forms of the cats are highly simplified and integrated into a surrounding field of dynamic color blocks. Unlike some of his earlier work, the composition of Drei Katzen demonstrates a strong engagement with Cubist and Futurist structural influences, utilizing sharp angles and rhythmic, fractured lines to convey energy and movement while maintaining the inherent grace of the animals.

This important example of German Modernism is a cornerstone of the collection at the Kunstsammlung NRW. The deliberate application of oil highlights Marc’s pursuit of harmonious composition through intense formal experimentation. The enduring popularity of Marc's animal studies means that high-quality prints and references of the work are widely sought after by students and collectors, ensuring its continued study and visibility.