Expressionism: the art of color and form that screams from the soul and explodes with emotion

In the early 20th century, a new artistic movement was born in the European art world, depicting the inner world of humans with intense expression. It is called Expressionism, an art that expresses emotions and sensations through color, line, and distortion of form. It has influenced various fields such as painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, theater, film, and music, and expressed the anxiety and conflict of modern society, as well as the cry of the human soul. In this article, we will explain the characteristics and historical background of Expressionism, representative artists and works, and the influence of Expressionism in the modern era. artgraph.jp sells posters that faithfully reproduce the masterpieces of Expressionist masters with high-definition giclee prints. Why not decorate your room with the cry of the soul that Expressionism unleashes?

What is Expressionism? - Expression of the inner world

Expressionism is an art movement that emerged mainly in Germany in the early 20th century. Rather than depicting the external world objectively like Impressionism, Expressionism aimed to express the inner world and emotions of the artist subjectively. They expressed emotions such as anxiety, fear, anger, despair, and alienation through distortion and exaggeration of colors, lines, and forms.

Some of the characteristics of Expressionism are:

• Subjective Expression: Expressionist artists placed more importance on expressing subjective emotions and sensations than on depicting objective reality. They tried to express their own inner world and their critique of society through their work. Munch's "The Scream" is a representative work of Expressionism, expressing emotions such as anxiety and fear with distorted figures and a blood-red sky.
• Color Distortion: Expressionist artists boldly distorted colors to express emotion. They used bright primary colors such as red and yellow, or combined complementary colors, rather than natural tones, to create a strong visual impact. Kirchner's "Berlin Street" expresses the hustle and bustle of the city and the alienation of the people through strong color contrasts.
• Exaggeration of Form: Expressionist artists exaggerated the forms of people and objects to emphasize emotion. They elongated figures and distorted facial expressions to convey feelings of anxiety, fear, and anguish. Kokoschka's "The Bride of the Wind" depicts an uneasy relationship between lovers, with distorted figures and an unstable composition.
• Rough brushstrokes: Expressionist artists used rough brushstrokes and heavy touches to express the intensity of emotions. They used brushstrokes to give their paintings dynamism and energy. Nolde's "Dancing People" is a work that expresses the energy and primal power of people with dynamic brushstrokes.

History of Expressionism - Anxiety and Conflict in Modern Society

Expressionism was born in the early 20th century in Europe, amid rapid modernization. The Industrial Revolution and urbanization brought about major changes to people's lives, but at the same time, they also created social problems such as alienation, anxiety, and inequality. The outbreak of World War I also had a major impact on European society, bringing anxiety and pessimism to people. Expressionist artists reflected the anxiety and conflict of these times in their works. They sounded the alarm for the times by portraying social contradictions and the darkness of the human inner world in powerful expressions.

Expressionism began in Germany in 1905 with the formation of an artist group called "Brücke (Bridge)." Painters such as Kirchner, Nolde, and Haeckel expressed the anxieties of urban life and the primitive instincts of human beings. In 1911, an artist group called "Blue Rider" was formed in Munich. Painters such as Kandinsky, Marc, and Klee produced abstract paintings and works expressing the spiritual world. Expressionism influenced not only painting, but also various other fields such as sculpture, architecture, literature, theater, film, and music.

Representative Expressionist Artists and Works

Expressionism has many great artists, but some of the most famous are Edvard Munch, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Oskar Kokoschka.

• Edvard Munch: A Norwegian painter known for his works that express human anxiety and loneliness, such as "The Scream" and "Anxiety."
• Ernst Ludwig Kirchner: German painter. Founding member of the "Brücke (Bridge)" movement. He created works such as "Berlin Street" that expressed the anxieties of urban life and the primitive instincts of human beings.
• Oskar Kokoschka: Austrian painter who expressed the inner world and human relationships of humans through distorted forms in works such as "Bride of the Wind."

Contemporary influence of Expressionism

Expressionism has had a major impact on art since the 20th century. Various art movements, such as Abstract Expressionism and Neo-Expressionism, have inherited the spirit of Expressionism. Expressionist techniques are also applied to modern films, theater, music, and more. For example, the film "Cabaret" is set in Berlin in the 1930s and uses Expressionist images to depict the decadent atmosphere and anxiety of the people.

Expressionism is an art movement that depicted in powerful terms the social unrest of the early 20th century and the darkness of the human inner world, and its influence continues to be felt in various forms in modern art.

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