EXPRESSIONISM

Notes

**EXPRESSIONISM (Early 20th Century)** • Subtopic: Definition Expressionism was an artistic movement that began in Germany around 1905. It aimed to show inner emotions and feelings rather than external reality. Artists believed that art should express the soul, not imitate the visible world. In simple terms: Feelings + Art = Expressionism • Subtopic: Historical Context Expressionism appeared in Germany in the early 20th century, before World War I (1905–1914). It was a reaction against realism and impressionism — expressionists didn’t want to show what things looked like, but what they felt like. The movement was influenced by Fauvism for its use of color and symbolism for its spiritual meaning. Expressionism spread beyond painting to literature, theatre, architecture, cinema, and music, as seen in "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920). • Subtopic: Main Characteristics Expressionism is characterized by distorted shapes and figures to express emotion, bold and unnatural colors influenced by Fauvism, and dynamic, violent brushstrokes. It features expressive faces and dramatic subjects such as pain, anxiety, and isolation, with a focus on spiritual and psychological depth. The m...