Expressionism is an art movement which is most often associated with Germany. Unlike many other art movements, the idea behind expressionism was portraying the mood of the artist. This means that most of the art created by expressionists did not accurately portray physical reality. Generally, expressionism is applied to painting, literature, theater, film, architecture and even music. As with many other art movements, there are a few artists which really defined this movement in art history. Here are five artists that shaped expressionism.
Vincent van Gogh
Famous artist Vincent van Gogh is said to be one of the main painters who influenced the Expressionist movement. There were many paintings that Van Gogh did which were not considered to be compatible with the art that was being produced during his time. Most of the artwork that Vincent van Gogh did later on in life is believed to have influenced expressionists. His painting, The Starry Night, is a good example of a painting that does not portray physical reality, but seems to focus more on what he was feeling at the time.
Edvard Munch
This artist from Norway did a few notable pieces during the Expressionist movement. His piece, The Scream, is one of the most popular pieces that was painted during this time. It is a painting of an orange sky with a person screaming on a dock. The Sick Child is another piece of artwork that Edvard Munch produced which is very popular among expressionists.
Erich Heckel
One of the most well known German Expressionist painters was Erich Heckel. His most well-known work was Weisses Haus in Dangast. The colorful painting is of a house, windy road, and vegetation. Another one of the paintings that Heckel did which has gained a lot of recognition is Portrait of a Man.
Emil Nolde
Nolde is another one of the most well known German Expressionists. Considered to be one of the best watercolor artists of all time, Nolde commonly uses shades of yellow and red in his works. The Prophet is one of Emil Nolde’s most notable works that has defined the Expressionist movement.
Max Beckmann
Despite the fact that he rejected this term and movement, Max Beckmann is considered to be one of the best Expressionist artists. This German artist is the most well known for his self-portraits. Two of the most popular are his Self-Portrait with Horn and Self-Portrait in a Tuxedo. His work also represents many of the changes that happened throughout history. Max Beckmann’s biography was released in the German language in 2003.
Art movements, which play very significant roles in history, are something that many people give little thought to. These are just five artists that shaped Expressionism. Keep in mind that while Expressionism was mainly considered to be a movement that reflected German artwork, it actually extended into many other countries and is something that is practiced by many of the more modern artists, including ones that are alive today.
