Riding School 1913

Editor: Here we have Franz Marc’s "Riding School" from 1913, a dynamic woodcut print. I'm struck by the stark contrast and how the black ink aggressively carves out the forms of the horses and riders. What draws your attention most to this piece? Curator: Well, let’s consider the process. Woodcut, a decidedly laborious technique, contrasts sharply with the fluidity one might expect from a scene of equestrian movement. The resistance of the wood itself, the very material, dictated Marc’s forceful lines, creating that energy you noticed. Doesn’t that materiality immediately ground our understanding of German Expressionism in the physical? Editor: Absolutely, and knowing the artist chose woodcut gives me a better understanding of the scene itself. What else? Curator: Think about the role of printmaking within the burgeoning industrialized world of the early 20th century. Reproduction became more widespread and potentially more democratized. By embracing such techniques, Marc seems to acknowledge that accessibility to this work could also mean the materials have been further commodified through his art making practice. Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't considered the printmaking in that context. How does that influence how the Expressionist theme should be read? Curator: Look closer. Notice the intense black lines against the white. In its materiality, this process speaks volumes to the turmoil just before World War I. The sharp, unforgiving cuts mirror the anxieties, while the multiplication afforded through prints provided an appeal to a much broader populace than could, say, painting a single canvas. This allowed these cultural anxieties to further circulate within that social context. Editor: It’s remarkable to consider the confluence of materials, technique, and social commentary embedded in what I initially just saw as a striking image. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. It is in such analysis of materiality, process, and social context that we find the true, complex layers of these Expressionist works.