Impressionism vs. Expressionism — What's the Difference?

Use of visible brushstrokes to create general shapes.

An artistic style aimed at expressing emotional experience rather than physical reality.

Artistic focus on scenes of everyday life.

Use of distortion and exaggeration for emotional effect.

An approach to capturing the changing qualities of light.

A movement characterized by bold colors and dramatic, sometimes grotesque imagery.

A movement that emphasizes speed and brevity in composition.

Focus on the artist's subjective perspective.

Impressionism is a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage of time), ordinary subject matter, inclusion of movement as a crucial element of human perception and experience, and unusual visual angles. Impressionism originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s.

Exploration of themes like existential angst and despair.

Often Impressionism A theory or style of painting originating and developed in France during the 1870s, characterized by concentration on the immediate visual impression produced by a scene and by the use of unmixed primary colors and small strokes to simulate actual reflected light.

Expressionism is a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Northern Europe around the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas.

A literary style characterized by the use of details and mental associations to evoke subjective and sensory impressions rather than the re-creation of objective reality.

A movement in the arts during the early 1900s that emphasized distortion of external reality in order to express the artist's subjective experience.

(Music) A style of art music of the late 1800s and early 1900s, often evoking a dreamy mood and characterized by modal or whole-tone scales, rich and often dissonant harmonies in unconventional progressions, and the avoidance of traditional forms.

A movement in the arts in which the artist did not depict objective reality, but rather a subjective expression of their inner experiences

(arts) a movement in art characterized by visible brush strokes, ordinary subject matters, and an emphasis on light and its changing qualities

A somewhat analogous genre in early 20th century music

(music genre) a style that avoided traditional harmony, and sought to invoke the impressions of the composer

An art movement early in the 20th century; the artist's subjective expression of inner experiences was emphasized.

(poetry) a style that used imagery and symbolism to portray the poet's impressions

A genre of German painting that tried to show the subjective responses to scenes rather than the scenes themselves.

The theory or method of suggesting an effect or impression without elaboration of the details; - a disignation of a recent fashion in painting and etching.

An art movement early in the 20th century; the artist's subjective expression of inner experiences was emphasized; an inner feeling was expressed through a distorted rendition of reality

A school of late 19th century French painters who pictured appearances by strokes of unmixed colors to give the impression of reflected light

A style of painting concerned with the effects of light and color.

Expressionism uses exaggerated forms and vivid colors to evoke emotions.

Common themes include emotional turmoil, psychological depth, and existential themes.

Impressionism was influenced by the new urban scenes and middle-class leisure activities in late 19th-century France, while Expressionism was a reaction to the anxieties of modern life in early 20th-century Germany.

Subjectivity is central, with the art reflecting the inner state of the artist.

The main focus is capturing the effects of light and atmosphere.

A typical subject might be a landscape or a scene from everyday urban life.

Impressionism features quick, light brushstrokes, whereas Expressionism often has more deliberate, heavy strokes.

Impressionists often use natural, softer, pastel shades.

Imagery in Expressionism is often distorted and vivid to emphasize emotional impact.

Impressionism aims to accurately depict light and its effects, while Expressionism aims to convey emotional experiences.