Defining Expressionism with its colloquial and architectural meaning.

Expressionism in its colloquial meaning to its artistic leaning:

Expressionism is an art form in which the individual exudes his or her inner emotions, feelings or thoughts as part of the creative process and execution in their work. This expression can take the form of drama, music, art or architecture. Where distortion of form, silhouette, exaggeration and distinct swirling of brush strokes, are all employed to convey the individual’s feelings from their reactions to worldly stimuli. Denoted by anxiety, beauty, death, grief or joy. 

Begotten from the seeds of the late 19th century, by artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Edvard Munch and James Ensor, the art movement would last between 1905 - 1933. Expressionism would have its main influence and adherence in three key regions, namely; Germany, Austria and France. First emerging from Germany as a response to the anxiety and trepidation of world discord leading to events like world war 1; and a feeling of death of authenticity and spirituality noting to Impressionism. 

Some expressionist pieces:

    

Fig. 1, Vincent van Gogh, 1889, 'The Starry       Fig. 2, Edvard Munch, 1893, The Scream. 

night.'

Some early expressionist groups include Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter. The former wanted to agitate onlookers by using primitive figures, unsettling colors and distorted arrangements, and were influenced by renaissance artists whose woodcut prints inspired a revival in print making practices and as a means to write their manifesto. Further inspiration was from African and Oceanic art, because they were seen as closer to primitive or unevolved human origins. For the latter, they explored the idea of spirituality; believing that art had more depth in meaning beyond its surface. Colors were of symbolic value like their love for blue which they thought had spiritual attributes and a final thought of painting being intuitive. 

Some pieces by members of the groups:

Fig. 1, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, 1906          Fig. 2, Franz Marc, 1911, “Blue Horse I.”     

Fig. 3, Wassily Kandinsky, 1903, “The Blue Rider.” 

Expressionism in its architectural leaning and meaning:

Corresponding with its visual and performing arts equivalent, and starting in the early 20th century - it was also created and dominated in Germany. Denouncing aesthetic dogma although many works can illustrate recurring themes and expressions, expressionism deems it self through the use of distortions and fragmentation to express the inner emotions or psyche of the architect, therefore creating something unique. 

Erich Mendelsohn, 1921, Einstein Tower.  He sought to evoke lyrical emotion in a highly rhythmic way. His mix of Art-Deco, Art Nouveau, international style and streamline moderne would illustrate unorthodox lines and curves, where he sometimes alluded rationality but did not strive for that entirely.

Rudolf Steiner's Goetheanuman. He sought to amalgamate spirit and matter through architecture.describes his architecture as “spiritually expressive, liberal and primordially emotive,” which was expressed fully in the architects goetheanum. 

Chilehaus by Johann Friedrich Höger 1921 - 1924. 

Grundtvig's Church by Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint 1820 - 1940.

Reference list:

20th century architecture, (n.d.), Expressionism.

Available at: 

http://architecture-history.org/schools/EXPRESSIONISM.html 
(Accessed: 15th May 2021).

Designing buildings wiki, (n.d.), Expressionist architecture. 
Available at: 
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Expressionist_architecture 

(Accessed: 15th May 2021).

Abdou, KR. (2019), The Origins of Expressionism, an Evocative Movement Inspired by Emotional Experience.
Available at:
https://mymodernmet.com/what-is-expressionism/
(Accessed: 3^rd August 2021).

Wolfe. S, (n.d.), Art Movement: Expressionism – Expressionist Artists, Art & Overview.
Available at:
https://magazine.artland.com/art-movement-expressionism/ 
(Accessed: 15th May 2021).

Picture reference list:

20th century architecture, (n.d.), Expressionism.

Available at: 

http://architecture-history.org/schools/EXPRESSIONISM.html 
(Accessed: 15th May 2021).

Wolfe. S, (n.d.), Art Movement: Expressionism – Expressionist Artists, Art & Overview.
Available at:
https://magazine.artland.com/art-movement-expressionism/ 
(Accessed: 15th May 2021).

Abdou, KR. (2019), The Origins of Expressionism, an Evocative Movement Inspired by Emotional Experience.
Available at:
https://mymodernmet.com/what-is-expressionism/
(Accessed: 15th May 2021). 

Wikimedia commons, (n.d.), Goetheanum. 

Available at: 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goetheanum.jpg 
(Accessed: 15th May 2021). 

Wetzel, D. (2018), Nature and Architecture.
Available at:
https://www.cooperazione.ch/temi/tempo-libero/cultura/2018/natura-e-architettura-142681/
(Accessed: 15th May 2021). 

Structurae, (2018), Brick expressionist architecture: Media. 
Available at:
https://structurae.net/en/structures/buildings/brick-expressionism/media 
(Accessed: 15th May 2021).  

Idesign wiki. (2017), Erich Mendelsohn (1886-1953).
Available at:
https://www.idesign.wiki/erich-mendelsohn-1887-1953/
(Accessed: 3^rd August 2021).