Expressionism

         The expressionism movement occurred primarily in Germany and Austria during the first decade of the 20th century. Expressionistic art emphasizes the extreme expressive properties of art in pictorial form in order to explore subjective emotions and inner psychological truths. The movement departed even further from traditional notions of recording the appearance of reality than had the Post impressionists or Symbolists that came before it. Three of the most well-known artists from this time are Fritz Bleyl, Erich Heckel, and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner.
         The work of Siri Beckman and Holly Berry contrasts to the work of the German Expressionist art while they still share similarities. The subjects of the German Expressionist art tend to be more people and landscapes while Beckman and Berry choose all kinds of subjects. From the German work on Pinterest, many of the German work is solemn and has a kind of sad mood to it. The more contemporary work has a more excited or happy mood. Beckman also carves in to wood and uses mostly black and white while Berry uses bright and vibrant colors in her work. Most of the German work is either black and white or if it uses colors, they don't stand out as much as Berry's.

Siri Beckman, "Kansas Song," 2007

Käthe Kollwitz, "Maria and Elisabeth," 1929

These two prints are similar in the sense that they both use only black and white to create images and that they generally both use negative space as highlights in the print. The prints also both show fairly realistic images, there isn't much or any use of abstract shapes or patterns. In terms of differences, Beckman really uses lines to create energy in her print. Kollwitz doesn't use lines as much, but uses highlights very well to call attention to certain areas in the print. The mood of Beckman's print also differs from Kollwitz's because Beckman's comes off as brighter and more open while Kollwitz features a dark scene with two people who don't look to be in a good situation. 


"Collection Online | Browse By Movement | Expressionism - Guggenheim Museum." Collection Online | Browse By Movement | Expressionism - Guggenheim Museum. N.p., 2014. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.