Who Started Expressionism? Expressionist School

Expressionistic movement is known as an art in which the emotions of the artists are paramount. The style took place not in painting only but also in another spheres, such as sculpture, literature, film, etc. The Expressionist movement is characterised by the use of symbolic colours, distorted forms, surface and shapes – to demonstrate the precedence over a rational. The aim of Expressionism is to produce a highly emotional effect distorting reality.

The term «Expressionism» is referred to Herwarth Walden' publication in "Sturm" in 1911, however originally the term referenced all modernist or progressive movements (Cubism, Fauvism). These days, the term is generally referred to a specific art movement developed in Germany. Expressionistic movement formed as a reaction against Impressionism, the peak of it's development occurred in the early 20th Century. The movement rejected the idea of focusing on externals and emphasized the inner feelings of the artist.

However, it is also considered that the history of Expressionistic movement dates back to Late Medieval and early Renaissance period. The artists of that period Hieronymus Bosch and Matthias Grunewald, Spanish artist El Greco, the 19th century artists Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gaughin are also recognized as the figures that led the first phase of the Expressionist movement. The movement spread from france to Germany, Norway, the US (American artists influenced by the style were Max Weber, Ben Shahn, Ivan Albright, Marsden Hartley, George Grosz, Abraham Ratner, Jack Levine, Karl Knaths, Philip Evergood).

The further development of the style resulted into Abstract Expressionism movement formation. Influenced by Expressionist school Abstract Expressionism evolved generally known as American movement. The activity of the movement is closely associated with the name of Jackson Pollack artist. The scope of the expressionist movement influence is really great and this fact can be proved by the development of such style as Australian Expressionism. Albert Tucker is a bright representative of the Australian art world and a pioneer of Australian Expressionism.

The painting of that period with it's vivid, jarring, dynamic, violent colors and exaggerated lines used to manifest intense emotional expression are highly considered today. The movement has a lot of it's followers all around the world. Contemporary artists used the techniques invented by the artists of expressionism period to express their inner experience. Visit the collection of Ukrainian artists V.Klinkov to enjoy contemporary expressionism painting.