what is expressionism in art

Expressionism in art is an artistic style in which the artist seeks to depict subjective emotions and responses rather than objective reality. This is achieved through distortion, exaggeration, and the vivid application of formal elements to convey intense emotions and inner experiences. Expressionist art is characterized by intense and non-naturalistic colors, free brushwork, and emotional or mystical themes. It emerged as a modernist movement in the early 20th century and was particularly influential in Germany, Austria, and France. Key artists associated with Expressionism include Vincent van Gogh, Edvard Munch, Egon Schiele, and Oskar Kokoschka