MARSDEN HARTLEY

This scarf reminded me of the work of Marsden Hartley, an artist I always encountered when reading about American art of the 20th century, but whose work I never really investigated.  

Hartley (1877-1943) was an American Modernist painter, poet, and writer, born in Maine.

Hartley's work was shown alongside many other well-known American artists, such as Georgia O'Keeffe and Charles Sheeler, at Alfred Stieglitz's legendary 291 Gallery in New York.

Though Hartley traveled extensively throughout the United States, and was eventually categorized as an authentically American artist, he also lived in Europe and was greatly influenced by German Expressionism, and inspired by German military pageantry, as seen in the works shown here.

While in Europe, Hartley became acquainted with Gertrude Stein, Wassily Kandinsky (discussed here), and Franz Marc (recently discussed here), each of whom had a distinct influence on his work.

In the later years of his career, Hartley moved back to the U.S., and became a part of the Regionalism movement, depicting scenes of local life in both his paintings and his writing.

Hartley considered his art a spiritual journey, and found great meaning in symbolism.

"My work embodies little visions of the great intangible..."

--Marsden Hartley

Wool coat: vintage, thrifted
Scarf: thrifted
Riding pants: Tahari
Leather boots: Franco Sarto (also worn here and here)
Socks: Gold Toe (also worn here)
Leather purse: vintage (also worn here)
  Striped tunic: H&M
Leather gloves: Urban Outfitters

[Hartley images from arthistory.about.com, oilpainting-frame.com, venetianred.net, and triviumproject.com, respectively.]

FRANZ MARC

The colors I wear are always very specific, expressive choices, related to my mood or surroundings.  This is an ideal that I share with the late German Expressionist Franz Marc.

Marc (1880-1916) was a painter and printmaker, and one of the founders of the artistic collaborative known as Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider).

Along with Auguste Macke and Wassily Kandinsky, Marc founded Der Blaue Reiter journal in 1911, which became synonymous with the German Expressionist movement in Munich.
View my Kandinsky post here.

In 1912, Marc met Robert Delaunay, who greatly influenced Marc's artistic shift toward Futurism.

Within months after being sent to the front in World War I, Marc was listed as a notable artist and was slated to be removed from combat.  However, he was killed in battle in 1916, before he could be sent home.

For Marc, particular colors had very specific meanings.  For example, blue signified masculinity or spirituality, and red symbolized violence.

"Art is nothing but the expression of our dream; the more we surrender to it the closer we get to the inner truth of things, our dream-life, the true life that scorns questions and does not see them."    --Franz Marc

I'm wearing a vintage silk blouse, thrifted Ellen Tracy silk skirt, vintage cardigan, Urban Outfitters socks, whistle pendant from the Brooklyn Flea, and Marni shoes.

[Marc images from artmight.com, Leicester Arts and Museums Service, wikimedia.org, and karlshuker.blogspot.com, respectively.]