Vrouw met twee schapen 1890 - 1916

Franz Marc made this black and white woodcut of a "Woman with two Sheep" at some point in his short life. I can imagine Marc working on this print and thinking about the way the wood resists the blade. I see a single figure and two animals nestled one on top of the other. The composition is squeezed into a narrow, vertical space, emphasizing the figures' closeness. What did it feel like for him to be the one paring it back, simplifying the forms, trying to get to some essential truth? The woman gazes down, her arm reaching across the animal’s back in an act of care and intimacy. The animals are simplified forms, their woolly coats suggested by the rounded, almost cloud-like shapes. Like many artists, Marc had an affinity for animals and tried to convey their inner lives through his work. There's a conversation happening between artists across time, one inspiring the next to look at the world differently and share their unique vision.