In the context of the political tensions that preceded World War I in Europe, the expressionist school emerged in Germany, among other doctrines and schools in plastic art in the early 20th century.
Expressionism espoused the philosophy that the purpose of a work of art is to express inner feelings, subjective experiences, and distorted truths.
As a result, the school rejected the strict classical standards and rules of drawing and the typical standards of beauty, and instead aimed at expressing the emotional state of a person who is fighting fierce psychological and material battles in that complex period of human history.
The aim was simply to express existential anxiety and a crisis of meaning after many artists saw their work as a way to challenge the existing social, political and cultural order.
So they sought to expose the dark side of modernity, addressing themes such as alienation, isolation, and the horrors of war, while critics of Expressionism accused it of being too subjective and lacking in artistic skill.
basic features
One of the unique features of Expressionism is its focus on the artist’s inner world. Expressionist painters painted what they felt rather than what they saw, using exaggerated forms sometimes with bold brush strokes, and intense colors to express their feelings, as the goal was to present art that evokes a deep and emotional experience for the viewer.
The Norwegian painter Edvard Munch is considered the most prominent pioneer of the expressionist school, and in most of his works he distorted the form in favor of intense portrayal of emotions.
The “Scream” painting by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch (social networking sites)
Munch’s paintings focus on themes such as love, death, and existential angst. His most famous painting, The Scream, painted in the late 19th century, embodies the essence of expressionism, with its fiery colors, swirling brushstrokes, and a deformed figure screaming in agony expressing the existential angst and despair of modern man.
It can be said that Munch’s expressive style conveyed a raw and unfiltered perception of human emotions. He also rejected traditional techniques, and focused on capturing the inner essence of the human soul rather than physical manifestations in order to express his feelings with great power.
Also one of the most prominent pioneers of expressionism was the Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky, who was born in Russia in 1866 and died in 1944. He believed that art should break away completely from strict and precise visual references, and instead evoke emotion through form and color alone.
Accordingly, the subject that the painting deals with does not have to be realistic, but rather the important thing is that it moves the viewer’s emotion. His works are characterized by geometric shapes, colors and abstract compositions that aim to evoke spiritual and emotional responses in the hearts of viewers. In short, his art was firmly rooted in his belief that colors and shapes had intrinsic spiritual and emotional qualities.
turn to literature
Expressive art was not limited to painting, but extended to other art forms such as sculpture, literature, cinema and theatre. The works of great writers and poets such as Rene Maria Rilke have been associated with the expressionist movement, and Frilke himself has captivated readers with his deep, contemplative poetry for decades.
Meat and Fish Painting 1923 (Stuttgart Museum-Germany)
In his poems, he presented a deep exploration of human existence and the spiritual dimensions between man and himself, and between him and the world. He used rich and vivid images in his poetry that allowed readers to immerse themselves in a sensory experience through words. His themes were also refuting, in a philosophical tone, cases of love and nostalgia, and the complexities of the human condition, with a delicate balance between true vulnerability and deep insight.
It is worth noting that expressionism was not limited to a particular country or region, but had a wide influence throughout Europe, and even reached the United States. However, European Expressionism in particular had a significant impact on the development of art globally in many ways.
It was the basis for later art movements such as Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art because of its emphasis on personal expression and emotional qualities and challenging the status quo, paving the way for radical artistic experimentation in the 20th century and beyond.
Although Expressionism was short-lived, its influence on the art world cannot be overstated. His rejection of traditional artistic ideals and embrace of subjective experimentation helped pave the way for modern and contemporary art as we know it today.
