Art historyLesson 1 of 1 in the course Impressionism and modern art

Expressionism Across the Arts: Origins, Groups, Techniques, and Legacy

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

Save course
Lesson progress
0 / 5

Your progress is kept in this browser only.Sign up to save it

Summary

Expressionism is a modernist movement that sought to communicate inner experience rather than reproduce the world exactly as it appears. This lesson introduces its defining ideas and explains why the movement matters.

Expressionism developed in Northern Europe around the beginning of the 20th century, initially in poetry and painting. Expressionist artists aimed to express the meaning of emotional experience rather than provide a neutral record of physical reality. The artwork presents the world through an individual, subjective perspective.

All flashcards

What is Expressionism?
An artistic approach that emphasizes subjective emotions and responses rather than objective appearances.
How does distortion function in Expressionist art?
It alters forms or appearances to intensify emotional effects or communicate ideas.
Why is Expressionism's origin difficult to trace to one source?
It drew on numerous artistic and intellectual influences rather than a single origin.
What did Kandinsky believe simple colors and shapes could do?
They could communicate moods and feelings to viewers.
What is Emotional Architecture?
An approach emphasizing architecture's capacity to create emotional responses.

Quiz questions

  1. Where and when did Die Brücke form?Answer: Dresden in 1905
  2. Which set of techniques is characteristic of German Expressionist cinema?Answer: Distorted sets, dramatic lighting, and unusual camera angles
  3. How did Expressionist music commonly create tension or psychological unease?Answer: Through dissonance and avoidance of conventional harmonic resolution
  4. What did Mathias Goeritz argue in his 1953 Emotional Architecture manifesto?Answer: A principal function of architecture is to create emotion.
  5. Which work is often described as the first Expressionist drama?Answer: Oskar Kokoschka's Murderer, The Hope of Women

Based on the Wikipedia article Expressionism, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

More in Art history

All Art history lessons
Art historyConceptual Art: Ideas, Precursors, and Historical Development5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Art historyMinimalism Across Art, Architecture, and Culture5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Art historyRenaissance Art Across Europe: Humanism, Patronage, and Artistic Change5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Art historyBaroque Art and Culture: Styles, Regional Adaptations, and Reception5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Art historyRembrandt: Career, Artistic Techniques, and Changing Legacy5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Art historyRococo: Origins, Visual Style, Regional Variants, and Decline5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →