Edvard Munch
Geschrei (The Scream)
Image courtesy of
The National Gallery of Art, U.S.A
Geographic Center:
Germany
Background:
Expressionism as a movement was born in Germany when several students joined
to form an artistic community with a shared awareness for social situations.
The called themselves "Die Brucke," German for "the bridge." Their work was
about meaning and expression rather than the portrayal of something as one
sees it, hence the term Expressionism. The movement eventually spread, and
more groups formed, including Der Blaue Reiter, or "the blue rider." Expressionism
was very social, the artists were radical, many of whom never had any artistic
training.
Effect on Faces and Figures:
Expressionism is stylistically similar to Fauvism in
that bright colors are used freely and are generally not representational
of the subject's real color. Expressionist artists also used expressive brushstrokes
in their paintings, and printmaking became an important medium.
The figure, as a subject, not only contains unusual colors but also lost its
Renaissance proportions. Figures were distorted,
often turning in an awkward way, or had a head too large for its body. Faces
and other planes were simplified and harsh lines often played an important
role in defining features.
Famous Artists:
Max Pechstien, Edvard Munch, Ernest Ludwig Kirchner,
Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, August Macke, Paul Klee
