Genesis II (Schöpfungsgeschichte II) from The First Portfolio (Die erste Mappe) is a significant woodcut by German Expressionist artist Franz Marc. Conceived in 1914, this powerful and graphically intense print was posthumously printed and published in 1921 as part of Die erste Mappe (The First Portfolio). This timing places the work’s creation firmly within the tumultuous environment of early 20th-century German art, specifically aligning it with the avant-garde ideals of the Blaue Reiter group, which Marc co-founded.
The work exemplifies Marc’s engagement with graphic media, where the constraints of black-and-white contrast force a radical simplification of form. Utilizing the sharp, deliberate lines characteristic of the woodcut technique, Marc achieved an angular reduction that heightens the emotional and spiritual intensity of the composition, a key feature of German Expressionism. Although the title references the biblical narrative of creation, Marc used abstraction to convey elemental forces rather than depict a literal scene. The composition is dynamic, relying on stark contrasts and expressive lines to suggest the primal energy of the genesis theme.
Unlike his highly color-dependent earlier paintings featuring animals, this woodcut explores pure, non-objective structure and movement. The radical simplification of forms seen in the piece demonstrates Marc’s rapid artistic development toward greater abstraction in his final years. This focus on foundational and apocalyptic themes was common among artists responding to the geopolitical crises of 1914. This stark and dramatically composed work is emblematic of how German artists utilized prints to communicate profound cultural and spiritual concerns. As a crucial example of early 20th-century German Expressionism, the original print is preserved in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, solidifying its importance in understanding Marc’s tragically abbreviated final period.
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