Art Analysis: The Yellow Cow

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Art Analysis: The Yellow Cow

Germany, in the early 20th century, saw the rise in the back-to-nature form of art. One of the artists who rose to prominence in regards to the new nature-oriented based art in Germany was Franz Marc. Franz Marc’s pantheistic vision of nature alongside his affiliation to animals set him apart as an outstanding painter, as seen through his work such as Blue Horses, The Fate of Animals, The Foxes, and The Yellow. Franz Marc’s The Yellow Cow utilizes visual elements, which include color, shape, and lines to effectively captures the emotions and feelings of Marc, who is peaceful and happy about his new marriage.

The Yellow Cow was painted in 1911 (Marc, 1911). The painting by Franz Marc was representative of the emerging changes in art in Germany during the 20th century. The art had adopted a similar approach used by artists during the time, which majorly emphasized in back to nature. The Yellow Cow painting also represented a significant change in Franz Marc’s painting method. Throughout his paintings, Marc was enthusiastic and passionate about animals. However, The Yellow Cow painting took a unique approach, which was against the typical sentimental approach, which is offered to animals by human beings. His painting indicated a cow that had wholly surrendered to nature. Through the Yellow Cow painting, Franz Marc was able to express his perception of his recent marriage.

Franz Marc’s work through The Yellow Cow Is an outstanding piece of art. The painter shows an immense ability in the manner in which he expresses his emotions and feelings. Franz Marc effectively manages to asset pour out his emotions, feelings, and his perception of the world through a painting which mainly features a yellow cow. Franz Marc uses several visual elements to help achieve his objective. One of the main visual elements utilized by Marc is color. Color is the most dominant visual element in The Yellow Cow. In the painting, the color was used in a manner that equated the use of symbolism in literature. Color represented a specific angle of Marc’s art. Vincent Van Gogh initially coined the use of color symbolism by Franz Marc. In his art, Vincent Van Gogh used color as a way of depicting emotions, although he retained other features that showed the natural world. Franz Marc capitalized on the use of color as a means of showing symbolism, as used by Van Gogh, in his painting. He utilized colors to illustrate the emotions in natural landscapes while also adding to his insights on pantheism. The yellow color is the main color in Franz Marc’s painting. The yellow color symbolized sensuality as well as femininity in The Yellow Cow.

On the other hand, blue represented maleness and spirituality, while red symbolized the earth. The description of his marital bliss was evident through the color in the painting. The use of color in The Yellow Cow Helped t outline his emotions, which represented security, calmness, and peace. The motivation was based on his second marriage to Maria Franck.

Another visual element that is predominant in Franz Marc’s painting is the use of lines. The Yellow Cow is characterized by the use of repeated lines in the painting. A look at Marc’s work indicates the presence of several lines. The lines of the cow are apparent in the lines of both the sky as well as the earth. The author also utilizes brown lines, which are majorly evident on the tree trunks frame. The brown lines are sufficiently used to elevate the cow’s status in the painting to portray the feeling of peace, calmness as well as happiness.

Franz Marc utilizes the combination of different visual elements in The Yellow Cow to a devastating effect. The clam lines and the soothing colors are combined well in a manner that helps to complement their use. Franz Marc’s use of the combination of colors and lines in the painting helps to derive a feeling of serenity and bliss in the painting.

The shape is another crucial element that is adequately utilized in the Yellow Cow. Franz Marc utilizes the element of shape to good effect in the painting. He ensured that the use of shape is designed in a way that the cow remains at the center of the painting. Therefore, he ensures that the other features included in the painting do not overshadow the presence of the cow. The blue hills which are located at the background of the painting are a perfect illustration of the use of shape in the painting. The blue hills are painted in a way that is similar to the buttock of the cow. The similarity in shapes is designed to control the vision of the audience. Consequentially a drift from the cow is easily redirected back to the cow through the shape of the mountains. His use of shape is vital as it helps to ensure that the audience does not lose sight of the intended purpose of the painting. One of the reasons which may have persuaded him to use the shape in such a manner Is his willingness and persistence to stick to his main message, which was to express his perception of the world. While Marc understands that he has the artistic responsibility to being as authentic in his draw, as illustrated in addition to features such as mountains, he desires to make known of his emotions, feelings, and bliss.

Conclusion

The Yellow Cow by Franz Marc represents an outstanding art drawn in the 20th century. In the painting, Marc effectively demonstrates his feelings, emotions, and bliss, which resulted from his new marriage to his second wife. It also represented his perception of the world. Franz Marc utilizes a combination of color and lines to help evoke his bliss and serenity in his life. His painting represented a perspective of life, which is based on happiness, calm, and peace, which he approves. His painting relies on the use of shape to help ensure that the audience is not easily destructed from the main theme and focuses on the cow.

Reference

Marc, F. (1911). The Yellow Cow [Oil Paint]. Franz Marc Museum. New York.