Expressionism

Expressionism (/ɪkˈsprɛʃənɪzəm/) is a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas.

Etymology

The term Expressionism is thought to have been coined in 1910 by Czech art historian Antonin Matějček, who intended it to denote the opposite of Impressionism. Whereas the Impressionists sought to express the majesty of nature and the human form through paint, the Expressionists, according to Matějček, sought only to express inner life, often via highly symbolic and abstracted use of line and color.

Related Terms

Abstract Expressionism: An artistic movement that developed in New York in the 1940s and 1950s, characterized by the expressive, abstract, or nonobjective qualities of the artwork.
Neo-Expressionism: A style of modern painting and sculpture that emerged in the late 20th century, characterized by intense subjectivity and rough handling of materials.
German Expressionism: A cultural movement that is challenging to define as it is not distinguished by a singular style or method of creation, but is better defined by the mindset and the goals of the artist.
Fauvism: A style of painting with vivid expressionistic and non-naturalistic use of color that flourished in Paris from 1905.
Cubism: A 20th-century avant-garde art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture.