Franz Marc's 'Mandrill', painted in 1913, exemplifies the artist's exploration of animal representation through abstract forms and symbolic colours. This Expressionist work captures the essence of the mandrill using a dynamic composition of geometric shapes and a vibrant palette.

Franz Marc, a leading figure of German Expressionism, created 'Mandrill' in 1913. Marc, along with Wassily Kandinsky, formed the group Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), which sought to express spiritual truths through abstract forms and symbolic colours. Marc was particularly interested in animals, which he believed possessed a natural innocence and purity absent in humans. He often depicted them in simplified, geometric forms and with symbolic colours to convey their inner essence. 'Mandrill' presents a highly stylised depiction of the primate. The animal's form is broken down into angular planes and curved shapes, rendered in a palette of blues, greens, yellows, and reds. These colours were not merely descriptive; Marc assigned emotional and spiritual meanings to them. Blue, for example, represented spirituality and masculinity, while yellow symbolised joy and femininity. The composition is dynamic, with the fragmented forms creating a sense of movement and energy. The mandrill's face, though abstracted, is still discernible, with its characteristic elongated snout and brightly coloured nose suggested through the arrangement of shapes and colours. The painting reflects Marc's desire to capture the animal's spirit, rather than its physical appearance, and to convey a sense of harmony between the animal and its environment.