German Expressionism: Art that captures anxiety, despair, and the cries of the soul

Expressionism, which flourished in Germany in the early 20th century, is an art movement that expressed social unrest and inner conflicts of human beings around World War I through intense colors and distorted forms. It influenced a wide range of fields, including painting, printmaking, sculpture, architecture, literature, theater, film, and music, and vividly depicted the darkness of modern society and the depths of humanity. Artists such as Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Emil Nolde, and Käthe Kollwitz broke with traditional concepts of beauty and prioritized the expression of emotions. In this article, we will explain the characteristics and historical background of German Expressionism, representative artists and works, and the influence of German Expressionism in the modern era. artgraph.jp sells posters that faithfully reproduce the masterpieces of German Expressionism in high-definition giclee prints. Why not decorate your room with the cries of the soul engraved by German Expressionism and feel the anxiety and hope that Germany had in the early 20th century?

What is German Expressionism? - Reflection of the inner world

German Expressionism is an art movement that arose in Germany around the time of World War I (around 1905 to the 1930s) in the early 20th century. It expressed the social unrest around World War I, the alienation caused by rapid modernization, and the inner conflicts of human beings through intense colors and distorted forms. German Expressionist artists placed emphasis on expressing subjective emotions and sensations rather than depicting objective reality. They expressed emotions such as anxiety, fear, anger, despair, and alienation through distortion and exaggeration of colors, lines, and forms. They rejected traditional concepts of beauty and realistic techniques of expression, and pursued a more emotional and subjective art that reflected the inner world of humans.

The defining features of German Expressionism are:

• Intense colors: He used a lot of bright primary colors such as red, blue, and yellow to express the intensity of emotions. He emphasized the contrast of colors to express psychological instability and social discord. In Kirchner's "Streets in Berlin," the strong contrast of red, green, and yellow expresses the hustle and bustle of the city and the alienation of the people.
• Distorted forms: By distorting the shapes of people and objects, Munch expressed unstable mental states and social distortions. In Munch's "The Scream," the distorted face and body of the screaming figure and the undulating lines in the background symbolize intense anxiety and fear.
• Rough brushstrokes: Rough brushstrokes and rough touches are used to express the intensity and dynamism of emotions. In Nolde's "The Raging Sea," the rough brushstrokes and dark colors express the threat of nature and the powerlessness of humans.
• Woodcuts: Woodcuts were one of the favorite mediums of German Expressionist artists. The rough lines and strong contrasts of woodcuts suited their emotional expression. They could also be mass-produced, allowing them to reach a wider audience. Käthe Kollwitz created powerful woodcuts that dealt with social issues such as war and poverty. Her "War" series is a powerful work that calls attention to the horrors of war.

History of German Expressionism - Two Groups and Diverse Developments

German Expressionism developed from the group of artists "Brücke (Bridge)" formed in Dresden in 1905. This group, which included Kirchner, Nolde, and Heckel, expressed the anxiety of urban life and the primitive instincts of human beings. In 1911, the group of artists "Blue Rider" was formed in Munich. Artists such as Kandinsky, Marc, and Klee placed emphasis on spirituality and the inner world, and created abstract paintings and symbolic works. They explored the spiritual meaning of colors and shapes.

German Expressionism influenced not only painting, but also sculpture, architecture, literature, theater, film, music, and many other fields. Expressionist architecture emphasized emotion over function, and buildings were designed using organic forms and unconventional materials. Expressionist films were characterized by distorted sets, lighting, and exaggerated acting, and expressed the inner world of humans and social issues. Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" is a silent film depicting a dystopian future, with impressive expressionist set design and lighting.

Representative artists and works of German Expressionism

German Expressionism includes many outstanding artists, but the most famous among them are Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Emil Nolde, and Käthe Kollwitz.

• Ernst Ludwig Kirchner: One of the leading German Expressionist painters. A founding member of the "Brücke" movement. He created works such as "Streets in Berlin" that expressed the anxieties of urban life and the primitive instincts of human beings.
• Emil Nolde: German Expressionist painter. After participating in "Brücke", he also participated in "Blue Rider". He expressed religious themes and the power of nature with intense colors. His representative works include "The Raging Sea" and "The Last Supper".
• Käthe Kollwitz: German graphic artist and sculptor. She created powerful woodcuts and sculptures that dealt with social issues such as poverty, war, and death. Her most famous works include the "War" series and the "Peasants' War" series.

Contemporary influence of German Expressionism

German 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 German Expressionism. German Expressionist techniques are also applied to modern film, theater, music, and other media. German Expressionism is an art movement that depicted the inner world of humans with powerful expressions against the backdrop of the anxieties and social problems that Germany faced in the early 20th century. Its emotional power and social messages continue to send us important messages today.

German Expressionist Masterpieces on artgraph.jp

artgraph.jp sells posters that faithfully reproduce masterpieces by German Expressionist masters such as Kirchner, Nolde, and Kollwitz in high-definition giclee prints. Why not decorate your room with the cries of the soul engraved by German Expressionism and feel the dynamism of 20th century art?

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