Understanding the styles of art: Expressionism

Understanding the styles of art: Expressionism

Expressionism in Art

Overview of Expressionism

  • Expressionism is an art style that emerged around 1912, characterized by a focus on expressing emotions through manipulated art elements such as line, shape, color, form, and texture.
  • A notable example is "The Scream" by Edvard Munch, which conveys feelings of anxiety through its colors and the depiction of a screaming face.

Analyzing Abstract Subjects

  • The painting "Woman with a Bicycle" by Willem de Kooning features an abstract representation of a woman and her bicycle; the subject may not be immediately recognizable.
  • De Kooning aimed to express his feelings about the person depicted or how he perceived her personality through abstraction.

Emotional Expression in Art

  • Francis Bacon's "Portrait of Pope Innocent X," often referred to as the "Screaming Pope," uses harsh colors and an unsettling expression to evoke strong emotions.
Video description

Learning how to recognize the styles of art helps students apply their knowledge to new works of art. Once we understand what makes a work of art fit within a style, we can identify and categorize other works that fit that style as well. Learning dates and names of key works may be important, but the broader understanding is enduring. Each video will present at least 3 facts about each style or "School" of art. More information and resources can be found on the author's blog at www.Artedguru.com