Expressionism: Art and Artists // Art History Video
Summary
TLDRThis episode of 'Accessible Art History' delves into 20th-century Expressionism, a movement that aimed to evoke deep emotions through art. Focusing on the works of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Otto Dix, and Vasily Kandinsky, the video explores their responses to World War I and the impact on their art. Kirchner's 'Self-Portrait as a Soldier' and Dix's 'Stormtroopers Advancing Under Gas' illustrate the horrors of war, while Kandinsky's 'Color Study Squares with Concentric Circles' showcases his exploration of color and emotion. The video also touches on the artists' struggles with the rise of the Nazi regime and their contributions to the art world.
Takeaways
- 🎨 Expressionism is an art movement that emerged in the early 20th century, focusing on evoking deep emotions through art.
- 🌟 The movement began in Germany, a time of political and economic chaos, and was influenced by the horrors of World War One.
- 🖌️ Expressionists were inspired by post-impressionists like Vincent van Gogh and late medieval German art, creating a unique and jarring style.
- 🔴 Two main groups emerged: Die Brücke (The Bridge) and Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), each with distinct approaches to color and emotion in art.
- 👨🎨 Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, a key figure in Die Brücke, used color to evoke emotional responses and is known for his self-portrait as a soldier.
- 🚑 Kirchner's experiences in World War 1 deeply affected his work, reflecting the physical and mental toll of war.
- 🖼️ Otto Dix, another influential artist, focused on portraiture and the harsh realities of war, with his work reflecting the alienation and horror he witnessed.
- 🚫 Dix faced censorship under the Nazi regime, which labeled him a 'degenerate' and confiscated many of his works.
- 🌈 Vasily Kandinsky, a pioneer of abstract art, explored color theory and spirituality in art, moving away from traditional representation.
- 🌟 Kandinsky's 'Color Study Squares with Concentric Circles' demonstrates his experimental approach to color and emotional impact.
- 🌍 The movement had a global reach, with artists like Kandinsky working across multiple countries and influencing art worldwide.
Q & A
What is the main focus of Expressionist art?
-The main focus of Expressionist art is to create art that evokes deep emotions in the viewer, often reflecting the artists' reactions to the horrors of World War One and the chaotic state of the world at that time.
How did the Expressionist movement begin?
-Expressionism began in the first decade of the 20th century in Germany, with artists reacting to the chaotic global politics, economy, and the horrors of World War One.
What are the two main groups of Expressionist artists mentioned in the script?
-The two main groups of Expressionist artists mentioned are Die Brücke (The Bridge) and Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider).
What was unique about the color theory used by Expressionists?
-Expressionists utilized the color theory used by Post-Impressionists like Vincent van Gogh, but they were also inspired by the forms and composition found in late medieval German art, creating a jarring combination that evoked emotional responses.
Who were the founding members of Die Brücke?
-The founding members of Die Brücke were Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Fritz Bleyl, Erich Heckel, and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff.
What was the perspective of Der Blaue Reiter group?
-Der Blaue Reiter, led by Vasily Kandinsky and Franz Marc, believed in the spirituality of art and that color could be used as symbolism to achieve understanding beyond the visual.
Why was Ernst Ludwig Kirchner discharged from World War 1?
-Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was discharged from World War 1 in 1915 due to a nervous breakdown and other health issues.
What was the fate of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's works under the Nazi regime?
-Under the Nazi regime, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's works were labeled as degenerate, and hundreds of his pieces were destroyed.
What is the significance of Otto Dix's artwork 'Stormtroopers Advancing under Gas'?
-Otto Dix's 'Stormtroopers Advancing under Gas' is significant as it depicts the horrors of war, with the soldiers appearing alien-like in their protective gear, evoking discomfort and an emotional response from the viewer.
How did Vasily Kandinsky's background in law and economics influence his approach to art?
-Vasily Kandinsky's background in law and economics may have contributed to his analytical approach to color and form, as seen in his experimental works where he explored color combinations and their emotional effects.
What was the inspiration behind Kandinsky's 'Color Study Squares with Concentric Circles'?
-Kandinsky's 'Color Study Squares with Concentric Circles' was inspired by his desire to experiment with different color combinations to see how they interacted and what emotional responses they would invoke.
Outlines
🎨 Introduction to 20th Century Expressionism
The video begins by acknowledging a subscriber suggestion to explore 20th-century expressionist art. Expressionism is characterized by its focus on evoking deep emotions, often in response to the horrors of World War I. The movement originated in early 20th-century Germany amidst global chaos and was influenced by post-impressionist color theory and late medieval German art. Two main groups emerged: Die Brücke (The Bridge), founded by artists including Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), led by Vasily Kandinsky and Franz Marc. These groups emphasized color's emotional impact and the spiritual dimension of art, respectively.
🖌️ Artistic Journeys and Expressionist Works
The video delves into the lives and works of key expressionist artists. Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, despite his family's desire for a traditional education, pursued art and co-founded Die Brücke. His experiences in World War I and subsequent health issues deeply influenced his art, which was later deemed 'degenerate' by the Nazis, leading to the destruction of many of his works. Otto Dix, another significant figure, was profoundly affected by his wartime experiences, which he channeled into his art, particularly in his portraiture and genre works. His piece 'Stormtroopers Advancing under Gas' is a stark depiction of war's horrors. Vasily Kandinsky, initially a law and economics professor, turned to art after being inspired by Monet's use of color. He co-founded Der Blaue Reiter and explored the emotional potential of color in his works, such as 'Color Study: Squares with Concentric Circles'.
🌟 The Impact and Legacy of Expressionism
Expressionism aimed to revolutionize the conception of art, particularly in its use of color and its pursuit of emotional responses. The movement sought to help people connect with and achieve emotional expression through art. The video concludes by thanking the subscriber for the suggestion and highlighting the importance of expressionism in art history.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Expressionism
💡World War I
💡Color Theory
💡Deutscher Werkbund (De Bruja)
💡Der Blaue Reiter
💡Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
💡Otto Dix
💡Vasily Kandinsky
💡Degenerate Art
💡Emotional Response
Highlights
Introduction to the Expressionist movement and its focus on evoking deep emotions through art.
Expressionism's emergence in early 20th century Germany amidst global chaos and the horrors of World War I.
Artists' reactions to societal issues by drawing inspiration from past art styles, such as Post-Impressionism and Late Medieval German art.
Formation of two main Expressionist groups: Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter, each with distinct philosophies on art and emotion.
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's background, his founding of Die Brücke, and the impact of World War I on his life and art.
Kirchner's self-portrait as a soldier, symbolizing his emotional turmoil and physical wounds from the war.
Otto Dix's artistic development, influenced heavily by his experiences in World War I.
Dix's provocative artwork, 'Stormtroopers Advancing under Gas,' reflecting the horrors and discomforts of war.
Vasily Kandinsky's unconventional path to becoming an artist, inspired by Monet's use of color and texture.
Kandinsky's role in founding Der Blaue Reiter and his exploration of color as a form of symbolism.
The significance of Kandinsky's 'Color Study Squares with Concentric Circles' in understanding his artistic process.
Expressionism's challenge to traditional art composition and its emphasis on emotional response.
The destructive impact of the Nazi regime on Expressionist artists, including the censorship and destruction of their works.
The legacy of Expressionism in changing perceptions of art and its potential to evoke deep emotional experiences.
Acknowledgment and appreciation for the subscriber 'A Curious World' whose suggestion inspired the video's topic.
Transcripts
welcome back to the accessible art
history youtube channel for this video
i took a suggestion from one of my most
active subscribers a curious world
she mentioned in a comment that she
enjoyed the work of the 20th century
expressionist and hope to see a video on
the subject i love the idea because it
could bring a great perspective to the
channel so thanks the curious world
the expressionists were a group of
artists that focus on creating art that
would evoke deep emotions in the viewer
many of them saw the horrors of world
war one and what humanity was capable of
in this video i'll dive into both
information about the movement as well
as about specific artists and their work
make sure to check out the instagram
page
at accessible.art.history for bonus work
so to learn more
then keep on watching expression began
during the first decade of the 20th
century in germany was a chaotic time
for global politics and economy in
addition to the horrific battles of
world war one
artists reacted to this and drew from
the past to create a new style
for example they utilized the color
theory used by post impressionists like
vincent van gogh but they were also
inspired by the forms and composition
found in late medieval germany with
artists like matthias gruenwald
this combination was jarring and it did
achieve the goal of evoking emotional
responses from the audience
the expressionist artist formed two main
groups or schools of thought
the first was de bruja or the bridge it
was created by a group of artists in
dresden who sought to change the
landscape of the art world
they were ernst ludwig krichner fritz
blair
eric heckel and carl smith ruthloff
these artists primarily focused
on the emotional responses of color
second was der blue reiter
this group was based out of munich and
was led by vasily kandinsky and franz
mark their perspective was that there
could be a spirituality to art and that
art was more than painting
more than meets the eye and that color
could be used as symbolism to achieve
understanding the first artist in
today's video is ernst live krishna who
was born in 1880 in bavaria
his parents did support his art but they
also wanted him to earn a traditional
education so he studied architecture at
university
there he met fritz blair and they came
up with the idea for the group due to
their shared interest about art
krishna volunteered to fight in world
war 1 in 1914
but was discharged in 1915 due to a
nervous breakdown and other health
issues
for the rest of his life he worked as an
artist in between the times he spent in
medicinal hospitals for his illnesses
he died on june 15th 1938 at age 58.
sadly for future generations his works
were labeled as degenerate and hundreds
of his pieces were destroyed by the
nazis
one of christopher's most famous works
is self-portrait as a soldier dating
from 1915.
he painted it shortly after coming home
from the front and his emotional agony
is clear
the work shows a bloody man in a
soldier's uniform he sits in an artist
studio but
is clearly not interested in his work
his amputated limb
is meant to symbolize his failure to
continue to fight for his country
besides a subject matter krishna's use
of color and a flat composition or
jarring
it gives a feeling that something isn't
quite right and that's a bit disturbing
for the viewer
in addition we can feel the main
subject's pain and feel a little bit of
sympathy for him
another expressionist artist that was
crucial to the styles development was
otto dix
was born december 2nd 1891 in guerra
germany
his family encourages artistic
inclinations but they were put on hold
when he left a fight in world war one
the experience would have a profound
effect on him and influence his art
heavily
although much of his work focused on
portraiture dix did branch off into
other genres as well
in the late 1920s he accepted a job
teaching art however with the rise of
the nazi regime dix was labeled as a
degenerate
he was fired and no longer allowed to
teach some of his works around 260
pieces were also confiscated otto dix
died of a stroke on july
25th 1969. this work called
stormtroopers advancing under gas
is one of dix's most jarring pieces it's
an etching with an aqua tint and was
created in 1924
this work was inspired by the artist's
time on the front the soldiers look
alien-like in their protective gear but
their weapons also give a menacing air
the jarring shapes and composition show
the horrors of war and make the viewer
uncomfortable
it is an uncomfortable response but it
is a response
nonetheless the goal of the expression
is the final artist of this video is
vasily kandinsky
was born december 16th 1866 in russia
but spent most of his youth in ukraine
kendinsky also spent time in germany and
france quite the globetrotter
fascinatingly he didn't become an artist
until around the age of 30.
before kandinsky studied law and
economics and worked as a professor
he was inspired to change careers after
seeing an exhibition on monet
struck by his use of color and texture
kandinsky ended up moving to germany to
pursue his new dream
while there he helped found darabu
writer and taught at the arts and crafts
school of the bajas
however with the nazi's rise to power
school was stood down and kandinsky fled
to france
he continued to work in art until his
death on december 13th 1944.
funnily enough one of kondinski's most
famous works wasn't intended to be
anything other than a study
it's called color study squares with
concentric circles was created in 1913.
in this piece kandinsky was
experimenting with different color
combinations to see how they interacted
with each other
and what emotional responses they would
invoke it's a fascinating piece because
it not only achieves the article
but is there is a sense of chaos from
the multiple combinations
it's a fascinating work and shows us the
inner workings of kondinski's mind
expressionism was a new movement that
strove to change ideas about the
composition of art
especially when it came to color and
idealized the emotional response that
art could provide and tried to help
people achieve it
thanks again to a curious world for this
awesome video idea
you
Weitere ähnliche Videos ansehen
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)