Impressionism vs Expressionism

The history of art of 19th and 20th centuries consists of a number of artistic movements which united great artists and influenced significantly on contemporary art development. Such movements as Impressionism, Realism and Expressionism and some others appeared to incorporate innovative, often revolutionary vision and techniques. To differentiate all of these styles and movements it is needed to know the features characteristic to each one of them.

Thus, Impressionism and Expressionism. The first one, Impressionism, appeared around the mid-19th century when the artists started looking for newer ways of expression. Impressionists started to paint the subjects more vaguely, they were opposed to represent reality in stark detail as it used to be earlier. The emphasis shifted from details to light and feeling depiction. Impressionists are often associated with «plein air» term – to paint the same subject in different lights they worked outdoors frequently. The emerge of Postimpressionists expanded the limits farther and helped to develop the movement more. The brightest representatives of the postimpressionism movement were Seurat, Cézanne, Toulouse-Lautrec, Gauguin, Van Gogh.

Expressionism in it's turn is characterized by symbolic colours, distorted forms. This subjective art form was opposed to Impressionism – it's goal was to reflect the artist's psyche rather than the reality. Impressionists strived to produce the effect of the subject on the viewer, while expressionists artists were expressing their own interior, conveying raw feelings, angst. However, there is at least one thing Impressionism and Expressionism have in common – they both included paint.

Expressionist and Realism Painter

Expressionism was not an organized movement, but it has influenced various media apart from painting, drama, poetry, and cinema. This movement was an extreme reaction against realism or naturalism. The difference between Expressionist painting and Realism art lies in the fact that the first one presents a world violently distorted under the pressure of intense personal emotions, while Realism depicts external reality. With the lapse of time Expressionism evolved into Abstract Expressionism, mostly known as "American action painting", influenced by Surrealism and Cubism initially, Abstract Expressionism rejected the social realism and geometric abstraction.

All the above mentioned styles are significant landmarks in the history of art. Contemporary artists often resort to the techniques invented by 19th, 20th century painters. If you would like to view expressionist, impressionist, etc. painting interpreted by contemporary painters you can do it visiting various local of galleries. However, here you are offered to visit online gallery of Ukrainian artists V.Klinkov – view and obtain pictures comfortably and easily!