How does this artwork elucidate its History?
In 1911, Marc drew in his sketchbook no. XXIV a pencil drawing, about the size of a postcard, entitled Young Horse in Mountain Landscape, which already shows the composition of the later painting. In the same year, he transcribed the sketch in great detail into a large oil painting.In the color theory of Marc and the Der Blaue Reiter group, the blue color stands for the spiritual principle. The painting was initially not understood and was derided or even spat upon. It was part of the private collection of Bernhard Koehler, who supported Marc financially and received paintings from the artist in return. Koehler bequeathed his art collection to his son, also named Bernhard, in 1927. After the son's death, the painting came to the Bernhard Koehler Foundation. In 1965, it was offered to the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus in Munich, where it has been exhibited ever since. As a popular poster and postcard motif, it is now one of the most frequently reproduced paintings in recent art history.
Lenbachhaus Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus Munich Bernhard Koehler Der Blaue Reiter