German Expressionism developed in late 19th and early 20th century Germany and was characterized by the use of vivid colors and distorted images to convey inner emotions and visions. Two major German Expressionist movements were Die Brucke, centered in Dresden and led by Ernst Kirschner, known for his expressive self-portraits and street scenes, and Der Blaue Reiter, which pursued non-objective abstraction through orchestration of color and form to envision a liberated society. Key figures included Kandinsky, whose abstract compositions eliminated representation, and Franz Marc, known for works like Foxes that distorted reality to evoke feelings. Expressionism also influenced other creative fields and the American artist Marsden

1. EXPRESSIONISM
Developed during the LATE 19th and EARLY
20th centuries
(Dominant in Germany
1905-1925)

2. Characteristics (painting):
The use of uncharacteristic colours
chosen by the artist…
 To release of the artist’s inner vision
 To evoke feelings from the viewer
 Distortion of images and violent
brushstrokes.

3. German Expressionism
“Die Brucke” (The Bridge)
Colour, Distortion of Images and
Violent Brushstrokes.
Movement centered in Dresden,
Germany and led by Ernst
Kirschner
Ernst Kirschner,
Self Portrait as a Soldier, 1915.
GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM

4. Ernst Kirschner,
Two Women in the Street,
1914.
GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM

5. Ernst Kirschner,
Street, Berlin,
1913.
GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM

6. Ernst Kirschner, Brandenburg Gate, 1915.
GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM

7. The Brandenburg Gate is a former city gate and one of the main symbols
of Berlin, Germany. It is the only remaining gate of a series through which
one formerly entered Berlin.

8. Kathe Kollwitz
Worked almost exclusively
in printmaking and
drawing
Themes of inhumanity and
injustice
The plight of workers and
war victims
Her son died during first
week of WWI
Kathe Kollwitz, The Survivors, 1923.
GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM

9. Kathe Kollwitz, Woman With Dead Child, 1903 etching. GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM

10. Kathe Kollwitz, Memorial for Karl Liebnecht, 1919.
GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM

11. Kathe Kollwitz, The Grieving Parents, 1932. GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM

12. Der Blaue Reiter
(The Blue Rider)
Another German Expressionist
movement that produced feeling as
visual FORM – not just color
Vassily Kandinsky, Composition VII, 1913.
Complete abstraction- non-objective work - elimination of representation
Knew about music, literature, science (the atomic theory) - material
objects have no structure or purpose
Orchestration of color, form, line, and space- blueprints for an enlightened
and liberated society, emphasizing spirituality

13. Vassily Kandinsky, Composition VII, 1913. DER BLAUE REITER

14. Vassily Kandinsky,
Contrasting Sounds, 1924.
DER BLAUE REITER

15. Franz Marc,
Foxes, 1913.
DER BLAUE REITER

16. Franz Marc, Fighting Forms, 1914. DER BLAUE REITER

17. Marsden Hartley was an American living
in Munich and was directly influenced by
these European movements
Marsden Hartley,
Portrait of a German Officer
1914.

19. OTHER FIELDS:
•MUSIC (ARNOLD SCHOENBERG)
•DANCE ( MARY WIGMAN)
•CINEMA (ALFRED HITCHCOCK, TIM
BURTON)