Artwork
Sleeping Shepherdess (Schlafende Hirtin)
Sleeping Shepherdess (Schlafende Hirtin) is an ink print by Franz Marc. It dates from 1912 and is held in the collection of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1912, *Sleeping Shepherdess* is a woodcut by German artist Franz Marc. Executed as a black‑and‑white print, the image presents a solitary woman reclined beside a stylised tree, her body forming a gentle curve. The composition is reduced to essential forms, with the figure, the tree and a few leaves constituting the entire visual field.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a woman lying on her side, her head supported by one arm while the other reaches toward the tangled branches of a nearby tree. The pose, reminiscent of a question mark, suggests a moment of repose or contemplation, inviting viewers to consider the relationship between the human figure and the natural element that frames her.
Technique & Style
Marc employed the traditional woodcut process, carving the design into a wooden block and printing it onto light paper. The print is characterised by crisp, black lines that contrast sharply with the pale background, emphasizing the graphic quality of the medium. The simplified forms and strong outlines reflect the expressive, linear aesthetic common to early twentieth‑century modernist prints.
Context
At the time of its creation Marc was a prominent figure in German Expressionism and a co‑founder of the Der Blaue Reiter group, which advocated bold abstraction and emotional intensity. Although best known for colourful animal paintings, this print demonstrates his exploration of figure work and his engagement with the modernist printmaking trends that were reshaping visual art in the pre‑World War I era.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Franz Moritz Wilhelm Marc (8 February 1880 – 4 March 1916) was a German painter and printmaker, one of the key figures of German Expressionism.
