It makes sense for this type of art movement to be created. During the time it was created, World War I was going on. It was not a good time. World War I marked a change in warfare permanently with the new machine gun technology. Wars were more brutal and frightening, not that they weren't frightening before. So, I am not surprised Expressionism came out of this. Death and human disasters seem be a major part of World War I and Expressionism is the art that came out of it.
If war never occurred, I think Expressionism would exist because there is still death and disasters. Although it would be a little different because it would be displaying different forms of human struggles. Ultimately, Expressionism expresses human struggles and pain. Whether war caused it or not, it would exist because there is still death and disasters.
"This is not one of the more uplifting, interesting art movements"
ReplyDeleteIt's not interesting because it isn't uplifting?
Would it surprise you to know that Expressionism begins before the turn of the century and the term wasn't coined until 1910 - 4 years before WWI? Of course, it did peak right after the war, but it began before.
Any idea why it might have begun before?
Humans don't only struggle and witness disasters in times of war. I would assume the disasters and struggles that resulted in Expressionism were more serious ones; ones that resulted in death as death seems to be a major part of Expressionism.
ReplyDeleteI should be more careful in the way I word my thoughts. I was trying to say that Expressionism is more of a serious, intense form of art movement because it expresses topics that all humans witness and deal with; death. Whether you believe it or not, death affects everyone in some way.