This document provides an overview of Expressionism in art. It describes two key Expressionist groups that formed in Germany in the early 20th century: Die Brucke and Der Blaue Reiter. Expressionist art was a revolt against Impressionism, featuring distorted subjects, bold colors, and emotional content intended to connect with viewers. Key artists discussed include Kirchner, Kandinsky, Marc, Munch, and Van Gogh, whose work influenced Expressionism through use of color, brushstrokes, and subject matter to express inner feelings and dreams. Expressionism also impacted literature, drama, film, and music through experimental approaches.

1. EXPRESSIONISM
Presentation by Kaitlyn Szczepanik and Courtney Johnson

2. Six Dancers by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner-1911

3. The beginning of Expressionism
◦ 1905
◦ Die Brucke
◦ Der Blaue Rieter
◦ Revolt against Impressionism

4. Key’s of Expressionism
◦ Bold, strong colors
◦ Not about realism
◦ Emotion
◦ Connection between artist and work or viewer and work
◦ Distortion
◦ 2-D subjects

5. More to Know!
◦ Influenced by society, changes in society.
◦ Swirling, Swaying, and exaggerated brushstrokes.
◦ Art came from within.
◦ All affected by WW1
◦ Trying to shock
◦ “Art is nothing but the expression of our dream; the more we surrender to
it the closer we get to the inner truth of things, our dream-life, the true life
that scorns questions and does not see them.” -Franz Marc

6. The Die Brucke
◦ The Bridge
◦ 1905 in Dresden Germany
◦ Kirchner, Heckel, Pechstein, and Schmidt-Rottluff
◦ Emil Nolde 1908
◦ Landscapes and Nudes
◦ Earliest Revolt
◦ African and Gothic Art

7. Continued!!
◦ Bold colors and designs
◦ Graphic images(Nudes)
◦ Bridge art together
◦ Total freedom
◦ Aesthetic
◦ Individualized. Resented Kirchner

8. Street Dresden by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner-1908

9. The Der Blaue Reiter
◦ The Blue Rider
◦ Strong, symbolic colors.
◦ Kandinsky, Munter, Marc, Jawlensky, Werefkin
◦ 1911 Munich, Munchen
◦ Connection between visual arts and music.
◦ Spiritual Connection: Painting and Viewer
◦ Not exactly an Expressionist group
◦ Almanac
◦ 2 exhibitions

10. The Der Blaue Reiter Returns
◦ More sophisticated than the Die Brucke
◦ More ideological and more concerned with changing the world
◦ An international group
◦ Never developed a common style
◦ Formal Aesthetic
◦ Vassily Kandinsky= Dominant
◦ Ended WW1
◦ If a bunch of artist are isolated and nomadic together are they still
isolated?

11. Fate of the Animals by Franz Marc-1913

12. Masks Still Life III by Emil Nolde (1911) Self- Portrait by Marianne Von Werefkin (1910)

13. Vincent Van Gogh
◦ Influenced Expressionism
◦ Major influence on Der Blaue Reiter
◦ Suffered a mental illness
◦ ‘Starry Night ‘
◦ ‘Sunflowers’
◦ Dark Colors
◦ Used color to express his feelings
◦ Thick layers and strong brushstrokes
◦ “Instead of trying to reproduce exactly what I see before my eyes, I use colors
more arbitrarily to express myself forcibly.”- Van Gogh

14. Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh

15. Sunflowers By Vincent Van Gogh-1888

16. Edvard Munch
◦ 1880- shortly before death in 1944
◦ 1889-1909
◦ Nomad and self isolation
◦ The Frieze of Life- The Scream, Anxiety, Jealousy, Madonna, and The Kiss
◦ Traumatic childhood
◦ Landscape “freed’ Munch
◦ “Nature is not only all that is visible to the eye… it also includes the inner pictures of the soul.” -Edvard
Munch

17. Madonna by Edvard Munch-1894

18. The Scream by Edvard Munch-1893

19. Other Forms of Expressionism
◦ Literature
◦ Drama
-New approach to staging, scene design and directing.
-Totally unified stage
◦ Film
◦ Music
-Atonal (distorts traditional tonality.)
-Unrecognizable melody

20. The End to Expressionism
◦ Hitler (1933)
◦ The Degenerate Art Exhibition (1937)
◦ Continued to evolve in a variety of ways
◦ Resurfaced in art across the world

21. Ballet Dancers by Max Pechstein-1912