What is Expressionism Art — Definition, Examples & Artists

Expressionism Definition

First, let's define Expressionism

The influence of expressionism art is all encompassing. It touched not just traditional art but also drama, literature, and, of course, movies. After we briefly go over expressionism artists, we will dig into how it influenced the world of cinema.

We will focus primarily on the most obvious influence, German Expressionism, followed by its spiritual successor, Film Noir. This leads us to the present day where expressionism’s influence remains. For more, check out our index of art styles covering more specific and noteworthy movements.

The movement and style of expressionism is very broad and encompasses several artistic mediums. But the basic expressionism definition is pretty concrete. Its definition is also universal, meaning it can apply to paintings as well as offshoots, from literature to drama to cinema. 

Without further ado, let's look at when did expressionism start and what does expressionism actually mean.

And we also shouldn’t forget some later movies directed by the world famous Fritz Lang, like Metropolis (1927) (noted as one of the best science fiction films ever made) and M (1931) (an influential and landmark thriller).

Metropolis is more obvious in its exaggerated architecture and characters. But M uses expressionist darkness and shadow to give off contemporary feelings of anxiety and dread in an uncertain and pessimistic Germany.

One amusing detail is that, early in his career, the one and only Alfred Hitchcock worked with German filmmakers, which influenced his movies. This can be seen in his early films, like The Lodger (1927).

But they can also be seen in at least one later black and white feature: Psycho (1960), one of Hitchock’s very best pictures.

While the killer being hidden in shadow is one obvious influence, so is the dramatic use of the Bates home overlooking the Motel, along with other moments of obscured and shadowed figures.

Aside from Fritz Lang, directors F.W. Murnau and G.W. Pabst and cinematographer Karl Freund are two other well known figures in German Expressionism. This is because they, along with other German filmmakers, had to flee their home country when it officially became Nazi Germany. And of course, they fled to Hollywood.

Expressionism Influence

Expressionism in Hollywood

The influence of German Expressionism and the filmmakers of the period continued when they moved to Hollywood. Of particular note are the Universal Monster movies of the 1930s.

These were worked on by many of these German filmmakers. Some of these films include landmarks like Dracula (1931) and The Mummy (1932), and they ushered in a monumental time in horror cinema.

These films became pop culture touchstones that are still relevant today, from Frankenstein’s monster to the Wolf Man.

However, if there was any way expressionism could be even more influential in Hollywood, it was through the emerging genre of film noir.

Even before this genre came to play, masterpieces from Orson Welles like Citizen Kane (1941) were employing German Expressionism techniques into their production and visuals.

Film noir has helped keep expressionism’s cinematic influence thriving to this very day. Film noir ended up being one of the most influential and important genres to come out of Hollywood. 

And those movies, with their shadows, darkness, and cynicism, act as examples of the art movement’s evolution in cinema.

Aside from noir (and its influence) never truly going away (hello, Neo Noir), other later films have paid strong homage to German Expressionism cinema. Some of these include a retelling of Nosferatu with Werner Herzog’s Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) and Woody Allen’sShadows and Fog (1991). 

There are also filmmakers like Tim Burton who make their expressionist influences very obvious, as can be seen quite clearly in Batman Returns (1992).