Expressionism arose in Europe in the early 20th century. It features the use of wildly strong colours, troubling landscapes and interiors that are almost about to collapse, and faces with large features heavily marked with black lines, and colour applied in an unnatural manner. The main exponents are the German Expressionists, but there were also the Belgian painter Ensor, or the Norwegian painter Munch. Even Picasso had an Expressionist period, in which his most important picture was Guernica.

The German Expressionists were divided into two groups: The Bridge, led by Kirchner, and The Blue Rider, whose most important painter was Franz Marc.

The Bridge was formed in Dresden in 1905. The members of the group were young architecture students, amongst them Kirchner who was without doubt the most prominent painter. After a period of depression, he committed suicide in 1938.

In Franzi in front of a Carved Chair, he has painted the portrait of a little girl. The use of colour is very typical of Kirchner, far removed from reality. The face is green, the eyes and eyebrows strongly outlined in black, and the lips are bright red. The girl is resting on a chair carved to look like a pink and black African mask.


(c) (R) 2013, MUSMon com S.L.
Text (a) Catalina Serrano Romero

Picture
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Author: Botaurus
Permission: This artwork is in the public domain: The author of this artwork died more than 70 years ago. According to E.U. Copyright Law, copyright expires 70 years after the author's death. In other countries, legislation may differ.