The Top 10 August Macke's Famous Paintings (Masterpieces)
August Macke is considered one of the greatest German artists of the 20th century. Macke's pleasant and simple depictions of household life made a significant contribution to Expressionism. Macke was one of the prominent figures of the popular German Expressionist Group called The Blue Rider.
Although Macke had a short eight-year career as an artist, he managed to pull off 9000 drawings and 600 watercolors and oil paintings.
This was only a glimpse of what he showed to the world. Let's explore some of the top August Macke paintings.
1. Three Girls in a Barque by August Macke
August Macke made frequent visits to Paris from 1907 to 1912. It was during that time that the artist absorbed artistic influences that helped him to combine everything into the Three Girls in a Barque.
He discovered the work of great Fauve artists, such as Henri Matisse during his visit to Paris in 1909. As such, it convinced August Macke to make good use of less-naturalistic and brighter colors.
Also, he learned about how to apply these settings on board brushstrokes. In the same year, Macke met Franz Marc and the two of them started to work together while developing a more colorful and abstract style.
In Three Girls in a Barque, the artist manages to combine different styles into one piece that he discovered during his trips. The figures that you see in the portrait are rendered in every possible flat color along with graceful lines.
However, in this painting, Macke attempted to produce something different that combines the contemporary style of French painting alongside its attention to form and color.
2. Woman in a Green Jacket by August Macke
The main subject in the work is set against the panoramic view of the river near the shade of trees on a bright sunny day. Centered in the foreground vertically, the woman is dressed elegantly in a dark blue skirt and a green jacket. Furthermore, the woman is contemplatively looking down.
She is set apart by certain elements that you find in the background. Two couples are flanking her and two trees are standing on each side. The positioning of the subject adds depth to the overall composition of the art, but also it singles out the woman. When you take a closer look at the portrait, you can see that the houses on the left shore are even mirrored by the tall houses on the opposite shore.
In short, everything is paired. If you observe it more deeply, you can find that the landscape is turning much brighter in contrast to the woman. It gives the subject a gloomy feeling as if she is different from the others.
As opposed to the other couples, she appears to be feeling sad. Although the other couples are seen admiring the scene and river before them, the woman looks withdrawn from the brightness that the landscape offers.
Just like other paintings that come from Macke, this one has no distinctive features as well. Every subject looks like generic silhouettes, faceless mannequins. The colors defuse well and increase the haziness of the landscape.
3. Promenade by August Macke
It is the first painting that August Macke created when he and his family moved to Hilterfingen in Switzerland. This was the first portrait of his family where he depicted them in a park. In the center of the painting, you can find a young man dressed elegantly in a suit with a summer hat on his head.
He is talking to a woman who is holding an umbrella and wearing a blue jacket over a red dress. The couple seems to enjoy the company of each other and is distracted from the environment.
Their faces are outlined and devoid of specific features, which is a common trait in Macke's paintings. This painting creates an impression of a blissful bright quiet sunny day.
100 Most Famous Paintings In The World [Masterpieces Of Art]
4. Indians on Horseback by August Macke
The landscape in the drawing show three people who were riding horses. You can also see the sharp mountains and a dark yellow sky in the background. There are huts and figures.
While two men are on horseback, the third one is holding a spear adorned with red, white, and blue feathers. Some of the colors in the painting are flat but the outlines are sharp. The shiny, dark fantasy landscape, trees leaning to the left, and the surfaces that are formula-shaped have some influence from the famous artist Franz Marc.
5. Zoologischer Garten, The Poet's Garden II by August Macke
A gathering of individuals, both seated and standing, may be seen in the forefront of the garden setting depicted in the painting. The garden has an explosion of colors and patterns, thanks to the abundance of blooming flowers and plants.
Those depicted in the painting are wearing vibrant hues that pop against one another, creating a happy and upbeat vibe. The artist's aim to immortalize the transient beauty of nature and the world around him is reflected in The Poet's Garden II.
6. The Moorish Cafe by August Macke
People are seated and standing in the foreground of the painting, which shows a scene from a cafe. There are Moorish tiles and designs all over the place, and the colors are warm and lively.
The people in the painting wear complementary colors that shine against one another, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere. Diagonal lines give the composition a sense of motion, which is reflected in the figures.
The painting is admired for the artist's ability to portray the transitory beauty of nature through the use of bright, striking colors. This painting's vibrant use of color and pattern conveys a lively sense of motion.
7. House in a Landscape by August Macke
The house is the main subject of the painting, which also features green trees and a golden sky. The house's startling color evokes feelings of calmness and relaxation. The home is unremarkable, appearing to be tucked among the trees with its low, sloping roof and chimney protruding above them.
This painting's use of color is really eye-catching, especially the way the yellow of the home stands in stark contrast to the green of the trees and the yellow of the sky.
The work is well-balanced and harmonious as a whole. The combination of color and light in the painting "House in a Landscape" is admired as a prime example of the artist's mastery of evoking a particular mood and setting.
8. The Red Tower by August Macke
The painting depicts a red tower, which is not the focal point of the composition. The tower's dramatic red color adds an air of drama and suspense.
The piece as a whole is quite well-balanced and melodic. The combination of color and light to convey mood and atmosphere is particularly impressive in the red tower painting. Macke's mastery of light and color is on full display in his masterpiece The Red Tower.
9. Children Playing By the Water by August Macke
There is a gathering of individuals in the foreground of the painting, who appear to be relaxing near a river on a warm summer day. The setting has blooming flowers, plants, and tranquil water in the distance.
The vibrant greens and yellows used in this painting are sure to put a smile on your face. The piece as a whole is quite well-balanced and melodic. It serves as a gentle reminder of the calming power of nature.
10. Still Life Sunflowers by August Macke
The still life setting in this painting features a cluster of sunflowers in the foreground. The sunflowers are created with strong, expressive brushstrokes that are both dramatic and eye-catching.
The yellow and orange of the sunflowers stand out vividly against the blue background of the painting. Sunflowers, which are only in bloom for a short time, represent both the beauty and transience of life in this painting.
The painting is a tribute to nature's aesthetic value and the psychological benefits of spending time in the great outdoors.
