What Is the Characteristics of Expressionism in Modern Art Style?

Art|Modern Art

Expressionism in modern art is a style of painting and other visual arts that began in the early 20th century. It is characterized by vivid colors, dynamic compositions, and distorted forms. Expressionists strove to convey intense emotion through their art, often depicting feelings of anxiety, anger, alienation, and despair.

Expressionism emerged in opposition to the dominant artistic style of its time – Impressionism. Impressionists sought to capture the fleeting impressions of a moment or scene; Expressionists instead sought to express their inner states of mind. Expressionists used distortion and exaggeration to create intense emotional effects: faces were often elongated or reduced to eyes or mouths; cities were rendered in fractured angles; and figures were often distorted beyond recognition.

In addition to its stylistic elements, Expressionism was also a philosophical movement that rejected traditional values in favor of creativity and emotionality. Expressionist artists used abstraction as a way to disrupt conventional thinking about subject matter and form. They believed that art should not be limited by realism but should instead be guided by subjective experience – a concept known as “expressive autonomy”.

Expressionism continues to influence modern art today. Many contemporary artists utilize expressive elements such as bright colors, forceful brushstrokes, and distorted forms in their work.

These techniques can be seen in the works of contemporary painters like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel, and Joan Mitchell, among others. Similarly, Expressionist ideas have been adopted by filmmakers such as David Lynch whose films are known for their surreal imagery and dreamlike atmosphere.

In conclusion, expressionism in modern art is characterized by vivid colors, dynamic compositions and distorted forms that are used to express intense emotionality while rejecting traditional values in favor of creativity and subjective experience. This style continues to influence contemporary visual arts from painting to film making today.