Expressionism

Description

• Non-naturalistic colour, distorted scale, impasto brushwork applied from tubes
• Untraditional portrait, figure seperated from background, face applied on surface
• Lack of spatial recession and shadow, vigourous staccato brushwork
• Hat a fashion statement, worn by bourgeoise, reflects her confidence

Context

• One of the first called a 'wild beast' by Vauxcelles at Salon de'Automne
• His wife, Amelie, wild and reckless personality, equal relationship, held out for 500 francs
• Nietzsche promoting wild and expressive colour, Guagin promoting return to purity of means
• 'Crude graffitti', even young artists couldn't identify, judge on value of a portrait
• Called childlike, barbaric, but some saw this as positive as associated with naturalism

Description

• 5 women with similar features, use of black and green - sinister, sickly atmoshere
• Elaborate, feathered clothing, elongated, bird-like, beak-like chins- sinister birds of paradise
• Side profiles, flatly painted, space enclosive and claustrophobic, broken, scribbled brushwork

Context

• Kirchner arcitectural student, used streets of Dreden, city on verge of war- uneasiness
• Isolation/ alienation of the city- colour used to create tension
• Sexually violent- red lips, seem like they're praying on viewer, dressed in black like harpies/ sirens, could reflect nervousness about STDs at time

Influences

• African masks with sharp features, pointed chins, Munch, Van Gogh, Fauvism
• Brothel scene done several times e.g. in woodcuts
• Illustration of Von Chemisso's story of man who sold soul to the devil- corruption of city

Description

• Biblical flood, spiritual rebirth as talked about in 'Concerning the Spiritual on Art'
• Semi circles, twisting lines, bursts of colour, forms evoking violence and choas
• Contrast of light/dark, strong diagonal, acute angles yellow, right angles red
• Some recognisable features in boats, waves, sand dunes and ladder = piano keys

Influences

• Wagner concert 1869 'saw all the colours in my mind...wild almost crazy lines', The Ring
• Title- music, tries to do visually what music does spiritually, links to Shoenberg
• Fauvists in use of colour, Surrealists in dreams as subject, Miro in biomorphic forms

Context

• Blue Rider Expressionist group- linked to spirituality and abstraction, mystical theoscopy
• Synathesia with linking music and visuals, condition Kandinsky may have had
• Time of political change- Russian Revolution, WW1, rise of Nazis