EXPRESSIONISM
THE HISTORY BEHIND THE MOVEMENT
Expressionism emerged as an 'avant-garde movement' in painting before the World War I
The movement primarily originated in Germany and Austria
Expressionism gained significance between 1905 and 1918 during a politically and culturally turbulent era of revelation of the profoundly problematic conditions of the turn-of-the-century Europe.
INFLUENCES
AFRICAN ART Sophisticated approach to abstraction of human figure Integration with form and function Exaggerated shapes or figures Expressionism results in:
-Pictorial flatness
-Vivid color palette
-Fragmented Cubist shapes
FAUVISM
`Pure, bright color, applied straight from the paint tubes in an aggressive, manner to create a sense of an explosion of Color on the canvas
`Movement in modern French painting characterized by the use of very bold, Vivid, pure colors. The name is a reference to the fact that the works seemed crude and untamed to many people at the time
COMPARISON
WHAT ITS MADE OF. Worked with arbitrary colors as well as
jarring compositions Arbitrary colors: Colors selected and used without reference to those
found in reality
Jarring compositions: To have a harshly unpleasant or perturbing
effect on one’s nerves, feelings, thoughts, etc.
artist's response to the environment was so intense
that it affected the form of the art. elements
are distorted or exaggerated by
subjective pressures
vivid and violent, with jarring images.
Expressionist goal is to capture emotion from the audience by:
1.Use of subjective interpretations of the world around them
2.Use of powerful colors and dynamic compositions to help inflict emotion
THE DRIVE BEHIND THE PAINTINGS
Inner experience rather than solely realistic portrayal
Depict not the objective reality, but the subjective emotions and responses
Expressionist Goals:
Strongly impose the artist's own sensibility to the worlds representation
EDVARD MUNCH He first studied
engineering but his frequent illnesses interrupted his studies
Left college to paint “in my art I attempt to
explain life and its meaning to myself.”
Lived a life of solitude Depressed- mother died
at the age of five, sister died when he was fourteen
EDVARD MUNCH
•Put a lot of emotion into his works •Used heavy emotional colors and thick brush strokes•Art was a way for him to release himself •Focused on sickness, anxiety, pain, and love
The Scream 1893- Edvard Munch
Aspects- •Strong colors•Heavy use of line•Shows how artist saw scene, not how it actually was •Subject is distorted and exaggerated •Emotional feelings of the anxiety of the modern man
Puberty 1895 - Munch
DIE BRUECKE1905-1913
First art studio that focused mainly on impressionism
Die Bruecke meaning the “the bridge” was centered in Dreseden.
Typically violent and emotional with imagery
The theme’s explored the relationship between city and country
Ended on the onset of World War One
DIE BRUECKE CONT. Main goal was to build a bridge between Germany’s past and future Felt that the current art was too academic and to defined and was not expressing the artists' feelings Used medieval German art and primitive African sculpture Inspired by Vincent Van Gogh and Edvard Munch Primary concern was to express deeply felt
emotions so often put their feelings towards WWI onto the canvas
DIE BRUECKE1
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MAX BECKMANN (1884-1950) From 1906-1910 his paintings
were characterized from the Impressionism period
His style changed radically and his forms became more mannered and polished, colors becoming more intense
By mid 1920’s he was hailed as a leading example of Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity)
1928 he received one of the highest honors in the fine arts
1930 an art gallery for his art was opened at the Stadtische Galerie
Karneval (Carnival (1942-1943)
Argonauten (The Argonauts 1949-1950)
OTTO DIX He was extremely critical of
contemporary German society and often dwelled on the act of sexual murder
In 1920 he met Groz and, influenced by Dadaism he began incorporating collage into his works
by 1924 he was developing an increasingly realistic style of painting (this is the period in which The Trench was created)
His works drew attention to the worse side of life, showing prostitution, violence and death.
He was born in Germany, fought for Germany and eventually died in Germany
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The Trench- Dix
EXPRESSIONISM INFLUENCES FILM Asymmetrical
camera angles Harsh contrasts
between dark and light
Shadows and silhouettes were important feature
Distortion was commonly used
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9TQkh6F4ZU
EXPRESSIONISM IN ARCHITECTURE The form can represent
the physical manifestation of a transpersonal or mystic spirit.
Displayed an aggressive articulation of parts
Evoke or express the inner sensitivities and feelings of the viewer or architect.
Einstein Tower in Potsdam Germany
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