The Riding School

The Riding School by Franz Marc, a powerful woodcut print dating from 1913, reflects the apex of the artist’s involvement with German Expressionism and the Der Blaue Reiter group. As a classification of printmaking, the woodcut medium inherently uses stark contrasts, relying on angular lines and planar simplification to render the complex subject matter. Marc employs defined forms to capture the dynamic interplay between nature and structure.

Marc’s well-documented spiritual fascination with animals, particularly horses, is central to the composition. The print features several stylized horses alongside human figures, presumably riders or instructors, engaged within the confined space of equestrian training. In contrast to the chromatic intensity of his contemporaneous oil paintings, this woodcut relies on a restricted, monochromatic palette that emphasizes structural dynamism over color harmony. This focus on simplified, energetic form was typical of the Expressionist desire to convey profound internal or spiritual realities rather than objective visual appearances, often favoring the raw vitality found in techniques like the woodcut.

Dating from the final creative years before Marc’s death in World War I, this piece demonstrates his mastery of graphic arts alongside his innovations in painting. Today, this work is held in the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is preserved as an essential piece of early modern German graphic art. Due to the historical significance of works like The Riding School, high-quality images of these critical Expressionist prints are often made available through public domain initiatives, allowing scholars and collectors greater access to Marc’s legacy.