German Expressionist Art

German Expressionism refers to a number of creative movements throughout post WWI Germany to rise of the Nazi's. It was a part of the larger Expressionist movement that was going on throughout Europe at the time. It was a vast collection of artists, writers, dancers, theatre performers and various other creatives.

German expressionist painters often distorted colour, shape and features to convey a completely subjective portrayal. Many of the German expressionists were war veterans from the first world war, so they had a jaded, post war view of the world and this came through in a lot of their work. A lot of the German Expressionist art was very anti-war because of this, with many painters such as Otto Dix and George Grosz joining the Dada movement.

Otto Dix

The Match Seller, Otto Dix 1920 https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9Vk9bK21h6MifCmGMDmScPlYWb_FOdsgE3VvRGhTfyDe4Trlx0OgF899a0rZAbxRMmaPj2Y15rAyKUJJ1gCQv9CpjFN87IpF66CIfAZzIzroR6e1oj6UWBfzXlGwMBqfuonX9xwAjmE/s1600/z.jpg

George Grosz

Moonlit Night, George Grosz 1916-1917  http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?artistFilterInitial=&criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A2374&page_number=1&template_id=SS&sort_order=1 1/12/14

Wassily Kadinsky

Transverse Line, Wassily Kadinsky 1923 http://www.wassilykandinsky.net/work-256.php 1/12/14 

Max Beckmann

Family Picture, Max Beckmann 1920 http://msuweb.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/images/beckmann_family.1920.jpg 1/12/14