The Expressionist period

The Difference Between Expressionism and Impressionism

Although Impressionism and Expressionism differ in many respects, they are often confused with one another. We will now clarify the key aims, techniques and themes of both movements and explain the differences to you. Here is our overview of Expressionism versus Impressionism. Impressionism can be dated to the second half of the 19th century. The famous Impressionists enjoyed their heyday particularly in France between 1860 and 1880. These included Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Edgar Degas. The Expressionist period emerged at the beginning of the 20th century, roughly between 1905 and 1925, and was centred primarily in Germany. Famous Expressionists included Edvard Munch, Wassily Kandinsky and Egon Schiele. The artistic approaches and aims of the Impressionists centred on capturing the fleeting moment, particularly in terms of lighting conditions and the atmosphere of a painting. Everyday scenes and nature became frequent subjects in their work. Through short, rapid brushstrokes and relatively light, pastel colours, the experience of the scene was brought to the fore.

A fleeting moment, or perhaps a profound emotion?

Expressionist artists, on the other hand, sought to depict an inner emotion. The characteristics of Expressionism in the works often reflect the artists’ subjective experiences and spiritual states. The themes of Expressionism were therefore quite different from those of the Impressionists. The characteristics of Expressionism are evident in the bold colours, the stark contrasts and the sometimes distorted forms, which could take the form of Abstract Expressionism. An Expressionist painting often consists of bold brushstrokes that emphasise emotional intensity. The philosophical background of the two artistic periods also differs greatly. 

For the Impressionists, the focus was on the idea of the moment and the depiction of external reality, as well as their own perception of it. The Expressionists turned these perceptions inwards and sought to explore how the situations felt. The characteristics of Expressionism therefore include the depiction of inner emotional life and an emphasis on subjective experience. In summary, it can be said that Impressionism and Expressionism display many characteristics that are very different. 

Whilst one art form focuses more on the external world and depicts it in beautiful, bright colours, Expressionism addresses inner feelings and questions. Despite their differences, both movements made a significant contribution to the development of art history in the 19th and 20th centuries. The distinct characteristics of Expressionism helped to establish a new perspective on art that delves deeply into the emotional and psychological world of human beings.

"Redmonkei" is part of a series of animal paintings I created in 2022 and 2023. I’ve noticed that the human figures in my paintings are disappearing and being replaced by animals. These animals change depending on my mood. The reason I started painting these monkeys was that I felt a strong connection to them after discovering this species online. I was fascinated and spent hours looking at them; I feel closer to animals I’m familiar with and find it much easier to connect with them. There are those few seconds when they sense your presence – that organic feeling that they’re trying to read you."

Colourful Animals of Expressionism

Anyone who is more drawn to blue dogs is sure to find something to their liking in the works of the Expressionist painter Anna Hopfensberger. Her narrative is fluid, critical, thought-provoking and provocative. Anna’s use of intense colours and angular figures is directly linked to the Expressionist characteristics of her works.

 Another equally famous painting is “Die Straße” (1913) by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, which, through its depiction of the hectic city, symbolises the restlessness and alienation of modern society. “The Street” is regarded as one of the most significant works of German Expressionism and is arguably another important Expressionist characteristic.

 Sebastian Lorenz’s Expressionist paintings feature intense colours and an emotional depiction of figures. His focus on human emotions and the expressive rendering of these in his works are key characteristics of Expressionism in his art.

Let’s move on to the next blog post!

Be sure to visit the Student Art Market blog, where you can find interviews with the students of the month as well as useful tips on buying and investing in art.  Modern art offers a wide range of diverse artists, some of whom are already on the road to success. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of modern art and let yourself be inspired by everything you encounter. After all, art is diverse and it is often personal taste that determines what appeals to you most – be it painting or performance art. Contemporary and modern art has something for everyone!

The Blue Rider art group

The ‘Blue Rider’ art group was founded in 1911. Founded by Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc in Munich, it later became a very well-known artists’ group. But what exactly is an artists’ group? 

An artists’ group or collective consists of several artists who come together to practise their art collectively. Whilst each member is free to continue working on their own projects, the group is based on a shared fundamental understanding – as was the case with *Der Blaue Reiter*, where the focus was on typical characteristics of Expressionism. However, the focus may just as easily be on other styles or themes. The group supports one another at exhibitions and also organises them together. 

The Blue Rider was named after a figure that Kandinsky had painted and which appeared in many of his works. For the group, the name symbolised spiritual and artistic freedom, as well as the use of intense and strong colours – all typical characteristics of Expressionism. Nevertheless, the works produced within the group were not limited to Expressionism. Rather, the various artists within the group exchanged ideas whilst remaining true to their own styles, with Expressionist characteristics often playing a central role. Alongside Kandinsky and Franz Marc, the main members included August Macke, Gabriele Münter, Paul Klee and Alexej von Jawlensky. The group placed great emphasis on the transformative power of art, which was reflected in their diverse forms of expression – whether figurative, abstract or otherwise, yet always influenced by elements of Expressionism. 

An important document of this group is the almanac *Der Blaue Reiter* (The Blue Rider), published in 1912, which contained a collection of essays, works of art and musical scores. This almanac reflected the group’s broad range of interests, often addressing universal themes and elements of Expressionism in conjunction with other forms of artistic expression. The activities of the artists’ group were brought to an end by the First World War. Franz Marc and August Macke were killed in the war, after which the group disbanded. Nevertheless, the Blue Rider left a lasting influence on modern art. It contributed to the development of abstract art and influenced many subsequent art movements, including Surrealism and abstract painting.

Expressionist works in museums

Several museums around the world are renowned for their impressive collections of Expressionist art. The Brücke Museum in Berlin focuses on the works of the artists’ group ‘Die Brücke’, whilst the Lenbachhaus in Munich displays significant works by ‘Der Blaue Reiter’. The Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin and the Städel Museum in Frankfurt house extensive collections of German Expressionists such as Kirchner, Nolde and Beckmann. In the USA, MoMA in New York exhibits works by international and German Expressionists. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid and the Albertina in Vienna also possess outstanding collections of Expressionist works by artists such as Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka. These museums offer a deep insight into the development of Expressionism in Europe and beyond.