What are the differences and similarities between Impressionism and Expressionism?
What are the differences and similarities between impressionism and expressionism? this was a question of my friend, when i mentioned that i was taking art classes in university.
Even though, at that time i was studying art of byzantine era, this topic was interesting, and it has motivated me to discover the answer. Finally studied this art styles and found some really interesting details that i can share.
Hopes, that after reading this post you will be able know the answer on the main question, but also will be able to determine whether the piece of art belongs to impressionism or expressionism technique.
ImPRESSIONISM
Impressionism started in France from 1860. Influenced by the development of photography, electricity and fabrique tube colors as well as city life. Impressionism was the beginning of modern art that pursued development of an art form that had its very subjectivity in the conception of the image.
The name of movement Impressionism comes from the painting of C. Monet Impression-Sunrise – when it was exhibited in 1874. The archetypal Impressionist painting is a landscape or other out-of-doors subject. Comparatively small in scale and painted largely or entirely on the spot and not in the studio. With a high-toned palette or clear, bright colours applied with varied, broken brushwork to a canvas primed with white (not the traditional brown).
Impressionists tried to catch the prismatic character of natural light by using spectrum colors evenly and in small touches, so that they blend optically when seen from the right distance. The casual composition is constructed entirely with color and relies as little as possible, or not at all, on tonal contrasts. All these elements had been anticipated separately by earlier painters to a greater or lesser degree but their combination was new.
EXPRESSIONISM
Expressionism developed as an avant-gard style, it started in France but bloomed in Germany. German expressionism time was between 1905-9020. Style was influenced by Grunewald (1470/80-1528), El greco (1541-1614), Van Gogh and also primitivism art (especially African). Urbanization and tighten worldwide political situation made own mark on style development.
Expressionists try to emphasize extreme emotions or social indignation. It’s 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. They express the meaning of emotional experience rather than physical reality. Expressionism has tendency towards futurism, fauvism and cubism. Artists used expressive, powerful colors, dramatic brush strokes and dynamic, jarring compositions.
My painting. I used impressionists cross hatch technique, short, quick brush strokes, pure colors, without mixing them in advance. Different shades of blue and green, + white, yellow, red. At the end, on top of the base, i used large and dramatic brush strokes like expressionists use in their paintings, for adding white, yellow, green and red lines. Painting is inspired by Claude Monet waterlilies and expressionists dramatic brush strokes.