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Typical characteristics of expressionism

Expressionism is in every respect a complex and open term, that you can hardly define precisely. It did not only exist in art, although it’s meaning and influence was most important here. You can find expressionism also in literature, in drama, in set and dance, in film and in architecture. A unified expressionist style, formed by typical characteristics, does not exist.

Expressionism seems to be the expression of lifestyle of a new generation, which only agreed with disapproval of the social and politic structures.

• The point is not only the sensual or decorative style of the appearance, but also the psychical, mental and social analysis.

• Expressionism aims at the emotional aspect. It wants to convey the inner expression, and it does not matter if it deals with landscapes, daily objects or persons.

• The big contrast to expressionism are the bright, friendly colours of impressionism.

• All the problems of the new age of industry on the one hand the expansion of the city on the other hand, the loneliness of the people are topics in which art is very engaged .

"The mask" (painted by Ensor, a painter from Belgium) is a symbol of alteration, laughing is the expression of absurdity, the coloured costumes are symbols of the vanity of the figures: creatures without faces, which are not able to see or to recognize, only strong in groups.	James Ensor (1860-1944), "The Mask". 1892. Brüssel, Musée d'Art Moderne.
The painter Munchfrom Norway shows the victim of society (uprooted, insecure creatures) .	Edvard Munch (1863-1944),"Roter Wildwein". 1900. Oslo, Munch-Museet.

Critic of society
As a sign of protest against the official art they formed communities of interests ("secessions)

• The artists of expressionism tried to go back to the roots of painting and to follow their instincts. It’s significant that they did without any "programmes"

• They tried to show motions as strong as possible by simplifications and pure, strong colours.

• The object of art should not serve the aesthetic pleasure but the elementary event.

• Landscapes: realistic forms of nature became original, nearly primitive signs.

• Deformation of the naturalness was a legitimate means of expression of a critical attitude towards society.

• The content and the new, bold creation of lines made the graphics of expressionism an important form of art.

• In search of the new picture of people, shaped by doubts and contradictions even the person oneself got analysed.