DRAWING AND PAINT

To ‘express’ is to coax the last drop out of a container, to relish something to the final moment, and so it is with expressionism in painting.  Expressionism Modern Abstract Art Paintings presents the artist’s utterly subjective perspective of a subject, distorted through the filter of the artist’s emotional state at the time of the creation of the artwork.  How vividly the artist does this is a benchmark of the artist’s talent, because the object of expressionism is to mute the physical reality of the subject and show more clearly than anyone could think possible the meaning of ‘being alive.’  Such a visceral style cannot be confined to any one creative medium, and the expressionism movement eventually encompassed drama and film from its beginning in poetry and painting.  Expressionism is a natural progression from the mindset of post-World War I Germany’s defeated people, as they struggled with reparations and colossal unemployment and inflation.  How better to scream at fate than in the arts?  And a scream is the ultimate self-expression of anguish over your life circumstances.  Edvard Munch’s painting of The Scream was prior to the flowering of this art movement in the Germany of the 1920’s, yet his work may be said to have inspired a great deal of what came later to be known as expressionism.

The twentieth century is the home of expressionism, yet the movement of abstract expressionism did not end with the 1920’s.  As a reaction to impressionism and its emphasis on light subject matter rather than religious or mythological themes, expressionism seeks to provide as much emotional angst as possible.  The techniques used are many:  distorted views of a subject, as if life is being observed through a warped lens, distressing subject matter such as rape, pillage and murder, and the discarding of perspective.

Intense emotion is the common ground of expressionism, and what better time to foster such intensity than a time of social upheaval?  Wars, financial distresses and international hotspots all place heavy emphasis on the emotions of chaos.  Expressionism withdraws its worldview into the security of the individual’s soul, where even if the worldview is filled with chaotic happenings, at least only the individual sees them and has no input from outside and confusing sources such as his fellow human beings.  Expressionism places subjective feelings above the objective reality of the external world.  Such emotionalism may be considered more apt to portray the deeper and darker aspects of the human soul, as light and happy subjects seem more a propos to impressionism.

Going darker for subject matter will add a serious drama to your choice of painting and you will want to consider just the perfect place for it.  How about in a quiet study where contemplation is the order of the day?  Abstract expressionism will enable your piece’s viewer to leave his or her objective surroundings behind, as they feel themselves drawn into the mindset of the artist at his easel.  It is a profound experience to lose yourself in a painting.