DISCOVERING

Expressionism

an introduction

Arising in Germany in 1905, the Expressionism years encompassed an avant-garde movement that made use of exaggerations and distortions within  artworks to accurately depict 20th century life from a subjective perspective.

coining the name

The term “Expressionism” was popularized by  several writers in 1910  but was supposedly coined by Czech art historian Antonin Matějček.

definition

Expressionism was very difficult to define as it overlapped with other major movements like Vorticism, Cubism, Futurism, Surrealism, and Dadaism.

characteristics

Striking colors and bold brushstrokes were used to overemphasize the emotions that were present, which highlighted their importance over a realistic interpretation within the artworks.

important groups that emerged

DIE BRÜCKE

The name of the group was chosen to emphasize their desire to create a bridge connecting the past and the present, as the word brücke simply translated to “bridge.”

deR BLAUE REITER

The artists of Der Blaue Reiter demonstrated a tendency to portray abstraction, symbolic content, and spiritual reference in their works.

OUR LIST OF FAMOUS ARTISTS AND THEIR ARTWORKS

Wassily Kandinsky  (1866 – 1944) Der Blaue Reiter  (1903)

Franz Marc  (1880 – 1916) Large Blue Horses  (1911)

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880 – 1938) Street, Berlin  (1913)

Egon Schiele  (1890 – 1918) Seated Woman with Bent Knees (Adele Herms)(1917)

Expressionism in cinema

After experiencing the horrors caused by the war, Expressionist cinema began to blossom.

the legacy of the movement

Expressionism was revolutionary and went on to inspire various offshoot movements and influence the development of contemporary art. The art paved the way for later movements, with its characteristics still existing in artistic practices today.

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