Twentieth-Century Expressionism

Its Nature, Background, and Language

Expressionism is a very complex thing, with some of its elements stemming back as far as
Shakespeare to modern day artists. It is generally thought of as being a movement in Germany and
Austria but themes of expressionism can be found in composers all over the world, from Stravinsky to
Charles Ives. Some think that expressionism should have a broader meaning than the period of german
art before world war I, and it could be thought of as an underlying part in all art that was just brought
into focus during this time. This way of thinking is a way of giving primacy to emotions. (Crawford 1)
Expressionists believed that you couldnt ignore the problems with modern living and you had to
confront the truth at all costs, and thus to save humanity from its spiritual decay. (Crawford 1) They
sought to look past the common practice, and music focused solely on technique to focus on the raw
emotions that humans experience. Logic and thought were abandoned, and Schoenberg believed that
one should look towards their inborn, instinctive self. (Schoenberg) They disagreed with the idea art
can exist strictly for the sake of art, but rather, it should be a response to life and society. Eventually
expressionists became interested in the mind and the human psyche, and especially the work of Freud.
Topics such as angst, rebellion against the father, sexual and gender issues, and lonliness and depression
became common underlying themes in these artists works. Herbert Read stated Expressionism tries to
depict, not the objective facts of nature, nor any abstract notion based on these facts, but the subjective
feelings of the artist.(Read) Expressionist art truly tried represent the soul of the artist within and had
no obligation to convention or form. Schonberg is quoted as saying expressionism is the art of
representation of inner occurrences. Expressionists rejected form in its conventional sense and
brought out their own, inner sense of form. Expressionist looked for ways to move away from
conventional harmony which brought about atonality and polytonality. These changes in thinking and
creative process helped pushed art forward and towards modernism, while still having elements of
expressionism.










Expressionism gives primacy to emotions (Crawford 1) Expressionists believed that you had to
confront the truth at all costs, and thus to save humanity from its spiritual decay. (Crawford 1)
Expressionism looks to look past common practice and music focused on technique and focus in the raw
emotions they were feeling. Logical thinking and writing was less important and tapping into your
inborn, instinctive Schoenberg self.
art for arts sake mentality disagreed with, art should be a response to society and life
Looked to set aside rational processes like formulaic, logical art in favor for music that flowed out of
the subconscious of the artist
Some people believe expressionism should have a much broader mean than just the period of german
art before world war I, but that it could be thought of as an underlying part of all art, which was brought
into focus in that era.
Though it is typically thought of as being a german movement, themes of expressionism can be found in
many composers around the world at that time.
Many of the expressionist artists became interested in properties of the brain, and the human psyche.
Problems such as: angst and rebellion against the father
sexual issues
loneliness and depression
Schonberg is quoted as saying expressionism is the art of representation of inner occurences
Expressionists rejected form in its conventional sense and brought out their own, inner sense of form.