Expressionism Art

Expressionism Art

Expressionism, one of the main currents of art in the late 19th and early 20th century, has its roots in the works of Vincent van Gogh, Edvard Munch, and James Ensor, each of whom in the period 1885-1900 evolved a highly personal painting style. In this art form, expressive possibilities of color and line are used to explore dramatic and emotion-laden themes, to convey the qualities of fear, horror, and the grotesque, or simply to celebrate nature with hallucinatory intensity.

The second and principle wave of Expressionism began about 1905, when a group of German artists were in revolt against what they saw as superficial naturalism of academic Impressionism. Expressionism was a dominant art style in Germany in the years immediately following World War I, where it suited the post war atmosphere of cynicism, alienation, and disillusionment.

The Characteristics of Expressionism

1.?????Focus on Subjective aspect-

Expressionist art is a dramatic and subjective art, which reflects the perception, emotions and feelings of its author on the subject portrayed. Some elements of the artwork used to be imaginary and subjective, that is, they were related to elements references of the own artist.

2.?????Tragic vision of the human being-

The fact that expressionism was a subjective art form allowed the artists to portray their respective visions of life. This form of expression often addressed more dramatic issues of human feelings, such as fear, loneliness, jealousy, misery, prostitution, and so on. Situations were sometimes portrayed about life, death, and the spiritual world.

3.?????Expression to the pessimistic side of life-

One of the main features of Expressionism was the retraction of intense emotions. There were no major concerns with standards of aesthetic beauty. Often, the works reflected the emotional and mental states of artists who, through their art, expressed a pessimistic approach to the reality they lived. This pessimism was mainly attributed to the historical moment that humanity was undergoing and which was reflected in a great feeling of anxiety before, during and after the First World War.

4.?????Deformation of the reality of the world-

The reality exposed by Expressionist artists was not governed by an idea of objectivity. Given that subjectivity is one of the main characteristics of expressionism, the artists of this European vanguard felt free to present reality according to their own perception. The main purpose of this representation was to prioritize emotions and feelings over an objective description of reality.

5.?????Expression of Individual freedom-

The expressionist movement defended individual freedom through irrationalism and subjectivity. Subjectivity allowed the knowledge of everything that was external to the artist to be given according to his own reference.

6.?????Use of three-dimensionality in works-

Expressionist artists used to make use of three-dimensionality in their works. However, this effect was achieved in an illusory way, that is, there was no real relief in the works. The illusion was intentionally created through traits.

The Elements of Expressionism

1.?????Use of Intense Colors- One of the main elements of Expressionism is the use of strong and vibrant colors, often unreal, that is, not directly representing reality.

2.?????Thick and distorted traces- Expressionist works had strong and well-marked features, but there was no linearity in the contours. The lines had twisted shapes, were somewhat aggressive and did not precisely determine the contour of the shapes. The lines were thick and angular.

3.?????Use of Extreme angles, flattened forms, disproportionate shapes, and distorted views.

4.?????Gestural brushstroke- A brushstroke that expresses an emotion regardless of what is being painted.

What makes Expressionism an unique art form ?

It is a twentieth-century artistic theory that advocates primacy of emotions. The movement subordinated form and technique to the communication of intense feeling, and attempted to widen aesthetic consciousness by exploring aspects of mind not considered by Realism and Naturalism. In order to express the subconscious and unconscious mind freely, exterior forms often used to be suppressed. Grotesque is a main feature of Expressionism. The characters and scenes are presented in a stylized and distorted manner with the intent of producing emotional shock.

Famous Artists and their Iconic Paintings

1.?????The Scream (1893), by Edvard Munch

Edvard Munch is regarded as one of the most significant and influential artist. He was part of the Symbolist movement and pioneered expressionist painting. He was influenced by impressionists and post-impressionists in Paris such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.

The Scream is one of the most iconic art pieces in the world. It is renowned for embodying the profound sense of angst and anxiety that permeated the early modernist era. The painting is largely autobiographical as it is based on Munch’s experience hearing a piercing ‘scream of nature’ after being left behind by two of his friends, who appear in the background of the piece.

2.?????The Starry Night (1889), by Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh is also seen as a seminal pioneer of 20th century Expressionism. His use of color, rough brushwork and primitivist composition, anticipated Fauvism (1905) as well as German Expressionism (1905-13).

The Starry Night reflects the artist’s perception of what he saw through the window of his bedroom when he was hospitalized in the madhouse Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Not all components of the work could actually be seen through the window. Some images added by Van Gogh, like the village, were imaginary and subjective, that is, they were related to elements references of the own artist. Some scholars consider that the villa portrayed on the painting represents the place where Van Gogh passed his childhood.

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3.?????Street, Berlin (1913) by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, along with Emil Nolde, was a member of the Die Brücke group of German expressionists. His work was characterized by vivid block colors, wide, contrasting brushstrokes and sharp, angular forms. His expressive use of color was inspired by the work of post-impressionist and early expressionist painters Vincent van Gogh, Albrecht Dürer and Edvard Munch.

Street, Berlin depicts Kirchner’s scornful view of life in Berlin. This is evidenced by the piece’s intense, sharp brush strokes and disconcerting color contrasts. The faces of the subjects are nearly indistinguishable from one another, highlighting the vacuous superficiality of Berlin’s high life. The figures stand on tilted ground, nearly overflowing out of the painting itself, creating a feeling of claustrophobia and disorientation.

4.?????The Yellow Christ?(1889), by Gauguin

Gauguin’s paintings were characterized by stylized dimensional forms and allegorical nature. Gauguin not only made the traditional use of vivid colors of expressionism, but also used them representatively to express his feelings.

In one of the most famous paintings, Yellow Christ , the use of colors was intended not as a logical representation but as a symbol of a sense of peace.

By: Jyotsna Shikha