Impressionism and expressionism

Probably the most popular style of art in the last 100 years is Impressionism. At almost the same time that artist in France began painting in this style; artists in Germany were experimenting with expressionism. Since neither attempts to accurately record the subject in exact detail, it is easy to confuse the two.

Prayer. Beauty of woman #11, Ira Whittaker

The public’s access to a simple camera, the Kodak Brownie in 1901, meant that artists felt the need to explore less traditional styles of painting. Photographs were black and white, so artists painted in brighter colours than before. Photographs had to be posed, looking rather unnatural, so artists sought to portray more natural scenes. Impressionism aimed to capture a moment in time; the play of light on leaves, the brightness of a hot summer’s day, the shimmering reflections from water. In so doing, they attempted to make the image more engaging than a mere photograph. In so doing, marks made by brush or palette knife became more pronounced. 

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Expressionism, on the other hand, took a different approach. Artists wanted to express the emotions experienced by the artist. A violent storm was more than just rain and wind. They hoped that the emotion felt by the artist could be shared with the viewer. Sometimes, there was no recognizable image, swirls and vigorous brushstrokes told their own story. Elements that were recognizable were distorted for dramatic effect. As with Impressionism, marks were an important element, not a distraction.

Artists saw these new exciting works, originally scorned by the general public and critics alike, but both styles were adopted by artists across Europe and the wider World.