1. Expressionism is the tendency of an artist to distort reality for an
emotional effect; it is a subjective art form. Expressionism is exhibited in many
art forms, including
painting,
literature,
film,
architecture and
music.
2. Modern Expressionism is a
post-expressionistic artistic style in which the artist creates his or her artwork by merging images and/or objects with emotions. This is accomplished through the use of both literal and abstract emphasis on color, texture, obscured subject matter, distortion, unnatural depth, exaggeration and modified surrounding imagery.
3. German Expressionism, also referred to as
Expressionism in filmmaking, developed in
Germany (especially
Berlin) during the
1920s. During the period of recovery following
World War I, the German film industry was booming, but because of the hard economic times filmmakers found it difficult to create movies that could compare with the lush, extravagant features coming from
Hollywood. The filmmakers of the German
UFA studio developed their own style, by using
symbolism and
mise en scène to insert
mood and deeper meaning into a movie.
4. Abstract expressionism was an
American post-
World War II art movement. It was the first specifically American movement to achieve worldwide influence and also the one that put
New York City at the center of the art world, a role formerly filled by
Paris. The term "Abstract expressionism" was first applied to American
art in 1946 by the
critic Robert Coates.