Blue Rider Artists and Their Influence
Blue Rider is an agency of artists based in Germany who played a principal role in the development of summary art. A painting in the AIC is considered as a Blue Rider (Der Balue Reiter) if it is created through artists in Germany, especially those who promoted summary art. Specifically, these artists are the pioneers of the New Artist Association including Paul Knee, August Macke, Franz Marc, and Wassily Kandinsky.
Characteristics of Blue Rider Art
A painting matches Blue Rider if it is published in the almanac with a woodcut. The artists of such a painting ought to also love horses and color, just like the pioneers of abstract art. The abstractness made many art theorists project their representations on the figure like a baby in the arms of the Blue Rider. Abstract art was also associated with Blue Rider artists and could be evident in their later works. Franc Mar liked horses while Wassily Kandinsky liked blue, which depicts primitivism among earlier contemporary artists (Altshuler & Mark 46). Abstract artists were fascinated by riders on horseback, which represents pleasure, independence, and power. On the other hand, blue had a mystical significance.
Criteria for Blue Rider Paintings in the AIC
In addition, the painting has to be created between 1911 and 1914. A painting in the AIC also fits Blue Rider if it is diverse while portraying interests in not only free experimentation but also spiritual expression. Moreover, a painting in the AIC can fit Blue Rider if it is primarily graphics and expressionistically based. Nonetheless, the painting has to have lyrical abstraction, deep mystical feelings, and spiritual content (Altshuler & Mark 49). The painting should also be characterized by cubism, futurism, and folk art. Besides, the painting should be associated with almanac content to spread the views of Blue Rider artists.
Works Cited
Altshuler, Bruce, and Mark Greenberg. The avant-garde in the exhibition: New art in the 20th century. New York: Abrams, 1994.
