The origins of Expressionism
Expressionism emerged in the early 20th century in Germany as a reaction to the coldness of realism and the rationality of Impressionism. The term comes from the verb “to express,” because this movement aims to represent emotions, fears, and states of mind rather than objective reality.
Two important groups contributed to the spread of expressionist art:
- Die Brücke (The Bridge), founded in Dresden in 1905, with artists such as Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Emil Nolde.
- Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), active in Munich from 1911, with leading figures like Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc.
