German Expressionism A Trending Art Movement From 1910-1940

German Expressionism was a trending art movement from 1910-1940. The movement started in Germany, and after World War 1 spread outside of the country. The movement was focused on a few different themes: early on during Expressionism, painters rejected the old, conservative traditions and styles of art academies and instead used strong nonrealistic colors and distorted, simplified forms. This type of art was meant to surprise the viewer and evoke an emotional response. Another important theme was a strong interest in the enticing yet dehumanizing nature of the urban lifestyle. Nudity and sexually charged portraiture was prolific during this period. A huge theme was the emotional peace and comfort that nature provided for the soul. While this theme was present before the Great War, the psychological damage from the war led artists to seek the peace that the natural world offered. Other common themes include landscapes, portraits, and postwar politics. A number of current events affecte d the works of Expressionist artists. The industrialization of Germany in the early years of the twentieth century led to urbanization and an increase in population density. The closeness of people led to a certain amount of disregard to the feelings of others. At the same time, the attractions and liveliness of the city gave artists a positive feature to latch on to. The overall effect of this led artists to feel two separate types of emotions, ultimately leading to ambivalence towards city