History of Art Expressionism

Kardelen Akkus A 231 History of Art

Prof. Marsh Final presentation

Expressionim

!   Artistic style from the 20th century

!   Convention of realism and naturalism

!   Focus on conveying experience, not reality

Edvard Munch

!   1863-1944

!   Norwegian Symbolist/Expressionist

!   Source of inspiration for (German) Expressionists

!   Bold composition

“The Scream”

!   Tempera and pastels on cardboard, 1893

!   Figure is round, head placed in exact middle

!   Self-portrait

!   Portrays “fear”

August Macke

!   1887-1914

!   German painter

!   Makes strong use of watercolors

!   Died at age of 38 as soldier in WW2

“View into a Lane”

!   Aquarelle out of watercolors, 1914

!   Motives are clearly structured

!   Colors create a warm

ambiance

!   Captures country’s beauty

and elegance

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

!   1880-1938

!   One of most significant Expressionists

!   Kirchner and 3 other artists

founded “The Bridge”

!   Expressed emotion and

experience through simple forms and clear colors

!   Works names inappropriate by Nazi Germany

!   Committed suicide in 1938

“Marcella”

!   Oil on canvas, 1909

!   Under aged woman provoked his desires

!   Background is kept very simple

(forms and colors)

!   Marcella shows sensuality

!   Composite of youth and

maturity

Finally…

!   Munch, Macke and Kirchner went against mainstream

!   Common: simple forms and colors

!   Displayed fear & pain, local beauty and desire for a sensual girl

!   Express inner feelings as raw as possible