Expressionism began just before the first World War but peaked in popularity in the 1920s. This movement focuses on the artist emotions towards the world, usually an event or culture normality. It was also express through literature, theatre, dance and music. Expressionism Art is very subjective due to its focus on personal emotions and opinions.
Wassily Kandinsky
Was a Russian painter and art theorist born in 1866. He was said to be inspired by how as a child he had a great curiosity for colours and by a particular painting by Claude Monet called “Haystack” because of its use of colour. Leaving the academy of fine arts in Munich after the outbreak of World War I. Following the Russian Revolution, Kandinsky helped establish the Museum of the Culture of Painting. Most of his work consisted of oil paintings with vibrant colour.
In my opinion, his work is very colourful which I enjoy as it does attract an audience just from the colours. A lot of his work looks abstract scenery which makes it a little hard to understand what he is trying to communicate in his art.
Egon Schiele
Was an Austrian painter and a protégé of Gustav Klimt, born in 1890. Being a protégé of Gustav Klimt, he obviously takes some inspiration from Gustav Klimt. He also seemed to have a deep fascination in nudity, sex and even death. At one point in his life, he was even arrested for his work due to it being “pornography accessible to children”. Of course, that wouldn’t detour him from continuing this after, however being a lot safer with where his work was seen. He also served in world war one, doing light duties which allowed him to continue to paint. He worked with oil paints, watercolours and even pencil, all depended on the complexity of the piece of art.
In my opinion, his work is very intimate and bold. You can tell he isn’t afraid to show the topics in his art that the public wouldn’t be comfortable normally seeing, especially in public. I also enjoy his styled version of anatomy.
Oskar Kokoschka
Was another Austrian artist born in 1886. He originally made postcards and drawings for children, before serving in world war one. It was found that he was mentally disabled after going to a hospital for a wound. When world war two came he fled to the Czech Republic then the UK due to being deemed as degenerate by Nazis. He also travelled to the US and lived in Switzerland. He was said to be inspired by Carl Otto Czeschka in creating his own style. In his work, he has used oil paints, pastels and crayon but seemed to prefer pastels and crayon.
In my opinion, I find a lot rather empty in detail making it a little bored and bleak to look at. I much prefer is oil painting as they are the exact opposite and fairly impressive.
Sources:
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/kandinsky-cossacks-n04948
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassily_Kandinsky
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egon_Schiele
https://www.egon-schiele.net/biography.html
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Kokoschka#Bibliography
Hollie Hurwood's Game Design course work 