Expressionist Art in the 20th Century

EXPRESSIONISM 1905-1925

In the early twentieth century the art movement known as Expressionism emerged and was quickly included in the literature about art. Its mark was intense colour, dashed or even disturbing brushstrokes, plus a haphazard use of space. Expressionist artists used distortion and exaggeration, in order to create an emotional effect on the viewer.

Expressionism influenced the fine arts, the dance, the cinema, literature and the theatre.

Other efforts used to arouse the emotions were distortion, primitivism and fantasy. The formal elements were juxtaposed, thus making the effect even disturbing to the viewer.

Expressionism became one of the main art streams during the early 20th century. Self-expression was adopted by the modern artists, and also in the art movements which followed. The world was to witness the artists’ feelings, rather than enjoy a clever artistic imitation of the world with was more familiar. Art works were the artists' personal interpretation of whatever they painted, rather than a depiction the real thing. They believed this gave their work a truer meaning and a life of its own.

Some schools of thought consider expressionism to have been influenced by the work of artists Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh and Fauvism. Expressionism became an international art movement.