Expressionism is considered one of the most vibrantly colored and intense periods in modern art history. Paving the way for Cubism, artists of the early 1910s focused on color and emotion, drastically steering away from perfectionism from the late 19th century. Expressionism consisted of various artworks; however, oil paintings overtook in popularity to express characteristics of color and feeling. With these characteristics, European artists formulated a movement that greatly affected modern art and its flow from Post-Impressionism to Cubism.
In Munich, Germany, two groups, The Bridge (1905-1913) and The Blue Riders (1911-1914), emerged to push the Expressionist movement forward; these groups built a standard for exaggerated colors and painting techniques. Artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, and Erich Heckel accumulated to the movement in high regard. According to the book German Expressionism: Der Blaue Reiter and Its Legacies (2020), The Blue Riders group significantly impacted the future of modern art. “As a major artistic grouping of modernism, the artists associated with Der Blaue Reiter were pioneers of abstraction…” (Price, D. 2020). While the two groups only lasted until the First World War, the short-lived collaborators remain as the founders of Expressionism art.
Along with the influence of the two groups, other artists from the post-Impressionist period developed famously known works, such as The Old Guitarist (1903-04) by Pablo Picasso in Spain and The Kiss (1907–1908) by Gustav Klimt in Austria. These artists created hundreds of works utilizing the symbolism behind color choices and the unique human physique. The elements of blue connect with sadness, whereas the figure in Klimt’s painting consists of gold and yellow colors replicating feelings of joy and contempt.
Relating to Scripture, 1 Thessalonians shares the importance of encouragement and community, prevalent during the Expressionist period. “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV Bible). Just as believers can encourage and support one another, these European artists came together in groups to cultivate new art. Using specific colors, brushstrokes, and figures would represent different symbolic attributes, thus giving further context to the viewer of the artist’s mind. The Expressionist period ultimately shared how similar individuals experience emotion, regardless of location or art form, through the beauty of color.
Below is the famous painting by Pablo Picasso, The Old Guitarist (1903-04). This piece has personally impacted my artwork and color palette. I believe this painting represents many Expressionist artworks in its choice of color, form, and overall symbolism, portraying loneliness.
Hannah J. Pasquini © 2023
References:
Price, D. (2020) German Expressionism: Der Blaue Reiter and Its Legacies, edited by Dorothy Price, Manchester University Press, 2020. Introduction. Pg. 1. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=6234104.
The English Standard Bible(ESV) 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Image: The Old Guitarist (1903-04) Pablo Picasso. © 2018 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Via Art Institute of Chicago. https://www.artic.edu/artworks/28067/the-old-guitarist
