WordValeexpressionism
art that distorts reality to convey emotion
In more detail
1. (noun) a style of art, literature, or music that tries to show inner feelings and emotions rather than the exact appearance of things
2. (noun) a movement in early 20th-century European art and culture that emphasized emotional intensity and distortion of forms
Examples
- The artist used bold colors and distorted shapes in her expressionism to convey anger and sadness.
- German expressionism in the 1920s produced some of the most powerful and disturbing artworks of the period.
How to use expressionism
Expressionism refers to an artistic movement and aesthetic approach that prioritizes the artist's inner emotional state over objective representation of reality. It is used primarily in art history and criticism when discussing early 20th-century movements, particularly German and Austrian works, though the term extends to literature and music as well. The focus is on emotional intensity and often distorted or exaggerated forms rather than accurate visual likeness.
Common phrases
- German Expressionism
- expressionist movement
- expressionist art
- expressionist painters
- expressionist style
Synonyms
emotionalism · subjective representation · abstract expressionism
Opposites
realism · naturalism · impressionism
Word family
expressionist (noun/adjective) · expressionistic (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse expressionism with impressionism; impressionism captures fleeting visual impressions of light and color, while expressionism distorts forms to convey emotion.
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