Expressionist Impulses: German and Central European Art, 1890-1990 at the Smart Museum of Art

By MIA DIMEO

Now through January 10, 2016 the Smart Museum of Art will celebrate a century of Expressionism with an exhibition of more than 80 pieces from the collection. Expressionist Impulses charts the style in its many forms through prominent movements spanning the twentieth century Die Brücke (1905–1914), Der Blaue Reiter (1911–1914), New Objectivity (1920s) and Neo-Expressionism (1960–80s). Focusing on Germany and Central Europe, the exhibition includes artworks by George Grosz, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and others working before WWI, mid-century abstractionists Joseph Albers and Hans Hoffman and later practitioners such as Martin Kippenberger and Jörg Immendorff.

The diverse list of artists presented under the Expressionist umbrella share a rejection of naturalism, and are bound by their impulse to create subjective worlds where color, line and form are used to achieve maximum emotion. Their work is often linked to political movements and Utopian ideas, but no one theme persists. Highlights include a bold-lined pastel portrait by Kirchner and a colorful oil composition attributed to Wassily Kandinsky.

Related exhibitions on view include To See in Black and White: German and Central European Photography, 1920s–1950s and Expressionist, New Objectivity, and Constructivist Prints, 1905–1925: Recent Acquisitions with photos and prints by Max Beckmann, Hannah Höch and László Moholy-Nagy. Just in time for Halloween, programming also includes a screening of the 1922 Expressionist vampire film Nosferatu on October 26 complete with live organ accompaniment.

For details please visit the Smart Museum website 

Top image: A screenshot of the 1922 film, Nosferatu