Expressionism
The artist expresses only what he has within himself, not what he sees with his eyes. -- Alexei von Jawlensky
QuoteExpressionist painters focus on themselves, and less on the subject. Many of the artists witnessed first hand the effects of modern warfare and the destruction of their homeland.
Georges Rouault stated "Anyone can revolt. It is more difficult silently to obey our own inner promptings, and to spend our lives finding sincere and fitting means of expression for our temperament and our gifts."Expressionist art was conceived
in opposition of
Impressionism. The Expressionist craved emotional drama, pure color
and innovation. Max Beckmann asserted "Art is creative for the sake of
realization, not for amusement: for transfiguration, not for the sake of
play. It is the quest of our self that drives us along the eternal and
never-ending journey we must all make." Expressionist painters look
inward at their own emotions, and less on the outside world. Painters of
the Expressionist generation grew up on the battlefield, witnessing
wartime atrocities and returning to war ravaged countries.
German Expressionists painters,
Egon Schiele,
George Grosz,
Ernst Ludwig
Kirchner, Emil
Nolde and
Oskar Kokoschka
dominated the art scene with powerful, emotional work based on the
human struggle and futility of war. Their art-work was born in a world
of confusion and social collapse.
Egon Schiele wrote
"I must see new things and investigate them. I want to taste dark water
and see crackling trees and wild winds."
Key
Descriptive Words and Phrases associated with Expressionst Painting -
Germany, early 20th century,
emotional effects, emotional experience, avant-garde, emotional angst,
Herwarth Walden, Der Sturm, graphic art, Die Brücke, Der Blaue Reiter,
Friedrich Nietzsche, psychological depths, symbolic colors, exaggerated
imagery, human psyche, exaggeration, primitivism, jarring colors,
self-expression, expression intensity, printmaking,
psychological,emotional themes, existential anguish, industrial modern
age, individual genius, sense of movement, energy
The Greatest Expressionist Painters of All Time
Francis Bacon British, 1909-1992 Expressionist Painter
James Ensor Belgian, 1860-1949 Expressionist Painter
Alexei Jawlensky Russian, 1864-1941 Expressionist Painter
Ernst Kirchner German, 1880-1938 Expressionist Painter
Paul Klee Swiss, 1879-1940 Expressionist Painter
August Macke German, 1887-1914 Expressionist Painter
Franz Marc German, 1880-1916 Expressionist / Fauvist
Edvard Munch Norwegian, 1863-1944 Symbolist/Expressionist
Emil Nolde German, 1867-1956 Expressionist Painter
Rouault French, 1871-1958 Expressionist Painter
Egon Schiele Austrian, 1890-1918 Expressionist Painter
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examples of expressionist paintings (click to enlarge)
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