expressionism Definition
- 1a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas.
- 2a style of art in which the artist or writer seeks to express the inner world of emotion rather than external reality.
Using expressionism: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "expressionism" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Expressionism was a cultural movement that originated in Germany.
Example
The painting is an example of expressionism, with its distorted shapes and vivid colors.
Example
Expressionism is characterized by a subjective perspective and the distortion of reality for emotional effect.
expressionism Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for expressionism
- modernism
- abstractionism
- avant-gardism
Phrases with expressionism
a post-World War II art movement in American painting, developed in New York in the 1940s. It was the first specifically American movement to achieve international influence and put New York City at the center of the western art world, a role formerly filled by Paris.
Example
Jackson Pollock was a leading figure in the abstract expressionism movement.
neo-expressionism
a style of late modernist or early-postmodern painting and sculpture that emerged in the late 1970s. It was characterized by intense subjectivity and rough handling of materials.
Example
Jean-Michel Basquiat was a prominent artist in the neo-expressionism movement.
a cultural movement that originated in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. It is particularly associated with painting, although it also included film, architecture, and other arts.
Example
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a classic example of German expressionism in film.
Origins of expressionism
from expression, meaning 'the process of making known one's thoughts or feelings'
Summary: expressionism in Brief
Expressionism [ikˈspreSHəˌnizəm] is a modernist movement that originated in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. It presents the world from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas. Expressionism is characterized by a style of art in which the artist or writer seeks to express the inner world of emotion rather than external reality. Examples of expressionism include abstract expressionism, neo-expressionism, and German expressionism.
