Expressionism was a reaction against the objective, realistic depiction of the world championed by Impressionism. Instead, Expressionist artists sought to convey their subjective, emotional experiences and inner states through their art. 

They believed that art should not merely reflect the external world, but rather serve as a means of expressing the artist's personal feelings, anxieties, and perspectives on the human condition. 

The Expressionists achieved this by deliberately distorting forms, exaggerating colours, and using bold, dynamic brushstrokes to create a sense of intensity and emotional resonance. 

They were not interested in creating a faithful representation of reality, but rather in evoking a specific mood or psychological response from the viewer. 

Strong, Expressive Brushstrokes: Expressionist artists often used thick, energetic brushstrokes to convey a sense of movement, emotion, and personal expression. 

This contrasted with the delicate, detailed brushwork of the Impressionists.

Expressionist artists frequently distorted and exaggerated the forms and figures in their paintings, often depicting them in a contorted or fragmented manner to convey a sense of psychological tension or unease. 

Expressionist artists used bold, vibrant colours that were often unnatural or exaggerated, with the aim of evoking specific emotional responses in the viewer. 

Expressionist art was deeply personal and introspective, focusing on the artist's own emotional and psychological experiences rather than on objective reality. 

Many Expressionist works explored themes of anxiety, isolation, and the darker aspects of the human experience, reflecting the turbulent social and political climate of the early 20th century. 

Edvard Munch: Considered a precursor to the Expressionist movement, but not an expressionist himself. Munch's iconic work "The Scream" is one of the most recognisable and influential paintings in art history. His haunting, emotionally charged depictions of anxiety and psychological turmoil were a major inspiration for the Expressionists.

Wassily Kandinsky:  Kandinsky is often credited as the father of abstract art, but his early works were also deeply influenced by Expressionism. He believed that art could evoke emotions and ideas beyond its representational content, and his vibrant, abstract compositions were a testament to this belief. 

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner: A founding member of the Expressionist group Die Brücke ("The Bridge"), Kirchner's works were characterised by their bold, distorted figures and vibrant, clashing colours. His paintings often explored themes of urban life and the human condition. 

Oskar Kokoschka: Kokoschka's intense, emotionally charged paintings and drawings were marked by their expressive, almost violent brushwork and distorted, fragmented figures. His works often explored themes of love, loss, and the human psyche.

Egon Schiele: Schiele's highly personal and often erotic paintings and drawings were characterised by their contorted, elongated figures and intense, introspective quality. His works were a powerful exploration of the human form and the artist's own psychological state. 

The impact of Expressionism can be seen in the work of many subsequent art movements and artists. The spontaneous, instinctive, and emotionally charged qualities of Expressionism have been shared by movements such as Abstract Expressionism and Neo-Expressionism, which emerged in the 20th century. 

Moreover, the Expressionist emphasis on subjective experience and the exploration of the human condition has continued to influence contemporary art, with many artists today drawing inspiration from the Expressionist tradition. 

It is crucial to understand the significance of Expressionism and its lasting influence on the art world. By studying the key characteristics, ideas, and leading artists of this movement, you can gain a deeper appreciation for the power of art to convey the human experience and the artist's unique perspective on the world.

German Expressionism was a revolutionary artistic movement that emerged in the early 20th century, characterised by its bold, emotive, and often distorted visual language. Rejecting the classical ideals of beauty and realism, Expressionist artists sought to convey their inner psychological states and subjective experiences through their art.

The roots of German Expressionism can be traced back to the late 19th century, with the work of Post-Impressionist painters like Vincent van Gogh and Edvard Munch. These artists pioneered a more subjective, emotionally-charged approach to painting, using vivid colours, distorted forms, and expressive brushwork to capture their personal responses to the world around them. 

The German Expressionists were also influenced by the spiritual and mystical themes of Symbolism, as well as the "primitive" aesthetic of African and medieval European art. They saw these non-Western art forms as a means of tapping into a more authentic, primal creative impulse, untainted by the conventions of academic European painting. 

Two of the most influential Expressionist groups were Die Brücke (The Bridge) and Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), both of which emerged in Germany in the early 1900s.

Die Brücke, founded in 1905 by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Erich Heckel, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, and Fritz Bleyl, sought to create a "bridge" between the present and the future through their radical, emotive art. Inspired by Nietzsche's philosophy, they rejected the academic traditions of the past in favour of a more spontaneous, visceral mode of expression. Their works often depicted the gritty realities of modern urban life, using distorted figures, jarring colours, and agitated brushwork to convey a sense of anxiety and alienation. 

Der Blaue Reiter, based in Munich, was founded in 1911 by Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, and other artists. Unlike the Brücke group, the Blaue Reiter artists were more concerned with formal and abstract experimentation, using colour, line, and shape to evoke emotional and spiritual responses. The group's name and the recurring motif of the blue rider reflected their interest in medieval and folk art traditions, as well as their desire to tap into a universal, primal creative language. 

The visual language of German Expressionism is characterised by several key elements:

Colour: Expressionist painters used bold, unnatural colours to convey intense emotional states. Bright, clashing hues were often employed to create a sense of tension and dissonance, rather than to accurately represent the natural world. 

Distortion Figures and objects were frequently depicted in a distorted, exaggerated manner, with elongated limbs, twisted features, and disproportionate proportions. This stylistic device allowed artists to move beyond mere surface appearances and delve into the psychological and emotional depths of their subjects. 

Brushwork Expressionist painters often used a rough, gestural brushstroke, with thick, impasto application of paint. This technique lent a sense of immediacy and spontaneity to the work, reflecting the artists' desire to capture their subjective experiences in a direct, unmediated way. 

Composition Expressionist compositions tended to be crowded, fragmented, and unstable, with a sense of movement and agitation. Figures were often arranged in dynamic, asymmetrical compositions that disrupted traditional notions of balance and harmony.

Primitivism Inspired by the "primitive" aesthetics of African and medieval European art, Expressionist artists incorporated elements of simplification, abstraction, and a lack of perspective into their work. This approach allowed them to move beyond the constraints of realism and tap into a more primal, universal mode of expression. 

Some of the most renowned German Expressionist painters and their iconic works include:

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's "Street, Dresden" (1908), a chaotic, fragmented depiction of urban life marked by distorted figures and jarring colours. 

Emil Nolde's "Young Couple" (1913), a striking portrait characterised by its bold, expressive brushwork and vibrant, almost clashing hues. 

Egon Schiele's "Seated Male Nude (Self-Portrait)" (1910), a haunting, contorted self-portrait that captures the artist's psychological turmoil through its distorted forms and intense, emotive lines. 

Wassily Kandinsky's "Improvisation 28 (second version)" (1912), a groundbreaking abstract work that abandons representation in favour of a purely formal exploration of colour, line, and shape. 

Franz Marc's "The Fate of the Animals" (1913), a dreamlike, symbolic painting that depicts a herd of animals in a state of agitation and distress, reflecting the artist's concern for the natural world. 

The impact of German Expressionism can be seen in the work of numerous artists and movements throughout the 20th century. Its emphasis on subjective, emotional expression and its rejection of classical ideals of beauty and realism would go on to influence the development of Abstract Expressionism, Neo-Expressionism, and other avant-garde art forms. 

Moreover, the Expressionists' engagement with social and political issues, as well as their exploration of the darker, more unsettling aspects of the human experience, would also prove influential for later generations of artists grappling with the complexities of the modern world. 

In conclusion, German Expressionism stands as a pivotal moment in the history of art, marked by its bold, emotive visual language and its revolutionary approach to the creative process. Through their distorted forms, vivid colours, and expressive brushwork, the Expressionist artists of the early 20th century sought to capture the raw, unfiltered essence of human experience, leaving an indelible mark on the art world and beyond.