Notes on German Expressionism Lecture

Introduction

• Year 1905: Significant year in Modern Art history.
• Ernst Ludwig Kirchner launched the art movement in Dresden.
• Movement known as German Expressionism.
• Kirchner referred to it as "Die Brücke" (The Bridge).

Key Artists and Impact

• Notable artists:
  • Fritz Bleyl
  • Eric Heckel
  • Karl Schmidt-Rottluff
  • Emil Nolde
  • Max Pechstein
  • Otto Mueller
• Major impact on 20th-century art.

Identifying Characteristics of German Expressionism

1. Highly Saturated Colors:

   • Bright yet not aesthetically pleasing when combined.
   • Colors not found in nature.
   • Illustrated by Kirchner's portraits.

2. Individualized/Personalized Color:

   • Use of color for self-expression.
   • Intense personalized color is a key feature.

3. Primitive Drawing Style:

   • Self-imposed crude style, inspired by early German woodcuts.
   • Artists chose not to draw realistically despite being trained.
   • Depicted real-world objects using abstract styles.
   • Used jagged lines and shapes to convey menace (e.g., knives, broken glass).

4. Themes of Discord and Despair:

   • Art depicted a nightmare world filled with sadness, fear, loneliness, and despair.

Historical Context

• Early 20th century: Unprecedented social change in Germany.
• Factors:
  • Modern technology
  • Industrialization
  • Armed conflicts and discrimination.
• Conditions of industrial workers:
  • Poorly paid, substandard housing, harsh working conditions.
  • Led to resentment against the wealthy and aristocrats.

Bohemian Lifestyle of Artists

• Artists lived a Bohemian lifestyle leading to mental health issues.
• Associated with Divine Decadence as part of their artistic expression.

Formation of Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider)

• Established in 1911 in Munich by:
  • Wassily Kandinsky
  • Franz Marc
• Focused on spirituality in art, contrasting with Die Brücke's outlook.
• Developed lyrical abstraction, blending non-objective art with real-life subjects.
• Influenced by cubism, Italian futurism, medieval woodcuts, and stained glass.

Impact of World War I

• Kandinsky returned to Russia due to war outbreak.
• Loss of key members in combat led to the dissolution of Der Blaue Reiter.
• German expressionism persisted, laying groundwork for avant-garde movements in the 1920s.

Post World War I Art

• Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh penalties on Germany, impacting the economy and art.
• Second wave of expressionists (e.g., Käthe Kollwitz, Otto Dix, Max Beckmann) documented war horrors.
• German cinema flourished, producing films reflecting crime, horror, and dystopian themes.
• Notable films:
  • The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
  • Nosferatu
  • Metropolis
  • The Blue Angel

Decline Due to Political Factors

• Hitler declared German expressionism as degenerate art in 1937.
• Actions taken:
  • Artists dismissed from teaching positions.
  • 5,000 artworks seized, including notable works by Van Gogh and Picasso.
  • Emil Nolde had 1,052 paintings seized.
  • Many artworks burned or sold; some remain missing.
• Most artists, except Kirchner, Kandinsky, and Kollwitz, continued their careers post-war.

Conclusion

• Impact of German Expressionism on modern art and its legacy continues to be studied.
• Importance of understanding the socio-political context behind the movement.

Thank you for attending the lecture! - Dr. Susan Rayer