Although it was an international movement, expressionism emerged simultaneously in several German cities, illustrating the anxieties of modern society.
Disturbing feelings about human behaviour and the contemporary world, as well as the loss of spirituality, intensified at the beginning of the 20th Century. Partly inspired by symbolism, the expressionists distorted forms and used bright colors to express their concerns about the direction of modern society. In 1905, a group of four German artists formed Die Brücke (The Bridge) in Dresden, marking the beginning of the movement. A few years later, in 1911, another group of artists founded Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Knight) in Munich. In total, expressionism lasted approximately from 1905 to 1930 and spread throughout Europe. In their criticism of civilization and especially of the negative effects of capitalism, the artists expressed for the first time their inner feelings, using exaggerated and agitated brush strokes, in strong and discordant colors. The climate before, during and after the First World War inspired many of their expressions of anger, violence and frustration, and their representations included marginalized individuals, such as prostitutes, as well as masked or masked faces.

Although the movement began in Germany, many of the most prestigious expressionists were not German. All expressionists wanted to impose their strong ideas and opinions on the spectators and used individual forms of symbolism to convey their thoughts. Harmony and balance were irrelevant, as artists sought to express intense feelings.

MAIN ARTISTS: EDVARD MUNCH • PAUL KLEE • GEORGES ROUAULT • OSKAR KOKOSCHKA • EGON SCHIELE • FRANZ MARC