Expressionism

Purpose: 

• To make connections between the Expressionist Art Movement and artists who worked in that style,     including artists from our past and present;

• To respond visually to artists who work(ed) in the style of the Expressionist Art Movement, by              creating a work of art in this style.

The art movement Expressionism occurred in the first ten years of the 20th century focused on emphasis on “extreme expressive properties of pictorial form in order to explore subjective emotions and inner psychological truths”. It was influenced by impressionists such as Gauguin and Van Gogh, but veered off to a less traditional way of portraying reality. Holly Berry, a contemporary illustrator, seems to have a more optimistic, colorful style in comparison to Edvard Munch. Munch’s work seems to be more dark with less color and more black and white.

Vernal Pool-Holly Berry                                                      Woodcut-Käthe Kollwitz

These two works of art are very different in style color choice, subject-but also have some similarities. Berry’s artwork has lots of color but Kollwitz’s is only in black and white. Even though they use different colors, both are contracting (such as the white to black and the red to the green). Woodcut is more of a sentimental/emotional piece, unlike Vernal Pool, which seems to portray a more happy, light tone to the viewer.

"Expressionism - Guggenheim Museum." Guggenheim Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.

"German Expressionist Woodcut Prints." Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.

"Linoleum Block Prints." Holly Berry Design. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.