Expressionism with Nature

 Expressionism with Nature

Expressionism is a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting,  Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas. The classic phase of the Expressionist movement lasted from approximately 1905 to 1920 and spread throughout Europe. Its example would later powerfully inform many individuals, and groups such as: Abstract Expressionism, Neo-Expressionism, and The School of London.*  

                                                         Dr Abe V Rotor

White Flowers in acrylic by the author, 2022

This painting was shelved for more than a year.  It lacked appeal, and in fact the subject was vague as a still life. On a summer day when the landscape around had turned brown and seemingly empty, I took the paint brush and freely applied in broad strokes thickening acrylic paints on the old painting.  Eureka!  It emerged from the dull, dusty and dry image with a kind of freshness and naturalness.  I became a student of the school of expressionism. It reminded me of Vincent van Gogh's paintings which critics called  post-impressionism -  the gateway to expressionism.  

                    Ruins of lighthouse and sailing ship, in oil by the author, 1979

Serendipity in art leads to discovery of new style.  It may be at the borderline of two schools.  Such is the case of Vincent van Gogh's paintings opening a new art movement - expressionism.  A close look at Paul Cezanne's later works on cubism led subconsciously to the same movement, veering away from impressionism in the later part of the 18th century in France.  Consequently abstract art took over in creating a hybrid of postmodern art which we know well today in a number of forms and styles we barely trace to older schools.  This was my personal experience in painting this piece, Ruins of Lighthouse and Sailing Ship.  That was in 1979 - 33 years ago, when I was struggling in establishing a consistent style I wanted to call my own.  I did not succeed. Style grows through spontaneity.  Or shall I say, serendipity? 

Autumn by Wassily Kandinsky
"Expressionism refers to art in which the image of reality is distorted in order to make it expressive of the artist's inner feelings or ideas." . Wassily Kandinsky

Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh

The Starry Night is an oil-on-canvas painting by the Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh. Painted in June 1889, it depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, just before sunrise, with the addition of an imaginary village.

Landscape by Erich Heckel

Expressionism consists of artworks that focus on the real expression. Not the realistic display but the emotional representation of the artists motive. Artist’s like Erich Heckel had the idea of freeing himself from the tradition school. He believed that art should be original and should break from tradition.  This also laid down the base of avant garde art.

Still Life by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

"A painter paints the appearance of things, not their objective correctness, in fact he creates new appearances of things." - Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Wheatfield with crows by Vincent van Gogh

Wheatfield with Crows is a July 1890 painting by Vincent van Gogh. It has been cited by several critics as one of his greatest works. It is commonly stated that this was van Gogh's final painting portrayed in  Minnelli’s 1956 biopic Lust for Life.~

*Acknowledgement: Internet, Wikipedia