One of the most unique aspects of German Expressionism is that it occurred in every field of creative art simultaneously. The movement was common in inspiration, purpose, and goal throughout the first two and a half decades of the 20th century. Of course it is nearly impossible to exactly describe the meaning of Expressionism or why it came about, but it had a vast influence over the artistic community as a whole. In every artist that participated in Expressionism existed an inexplicable longing to express what he saw and felt in a pure and new way. In a few words, Expressionism was a revolutionary movement against the stifling conditions that was Germany at the turn of the century.
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This website is a compilation of information that has been acquired throughout a semester of studying German Expressionism, with a concentration on the single aspect of the revolution against Industrialization that was a common theme for the Expressionists. On each page there is a text written by an Expressionist artist. Next to the text is a painting or print that directly relates and enforces the text. Behind the text is a portion of an Max Beckmann's Der Eiserne Steg (1922) that has been modified using modern technology to add a creative aspect in an expressionistic manner as well as enforce the interrelationships between different modes of artistic expression. Following each collage is a short explanation of the relationship of the works to the theme of the revolt against industrialization.
Click here to see original painting versus altered version