What is the Difference Between Impressionism and Expressionism?

Impressionism and Expressionism are two distinct art movements that emerged in Europe, with Impressionism dating from the late 1800s and Expressionism developing in the early 1900s. While they share some similarities, such as being avant-garde and rejecting classical art traditions, they have key differences in their focus and techniques:

Impressionism:

• Focused on capturing the fleeting moment of real-world subjects in plein-air landscapes.
• Used small, thin, and visible brushstrokes of bright colors.
• Depicted subjects using innovative techniques, departing from traditional Realist and Romantic styles.
• Traced its roots back to the Realism movement, particularly in France and England.

Expressionism:

• Less concerned with depicting real-life subjects, focusing on the artist's emotional response to the dehumanizing effects of industrialization.
• Used bright colors, angular lines, and distortions to evoke emotion.
• Developed in Germany as a reaction to Positivism and Naturalism.
• Considered the opposite of Impressionism in terms of tonality and methods.

In summary, Impressionism is characterized by its focus on capturing moments in real-world subjects, while Expressionism is centered on the artist's emotional response to societal changes. Both movements share innovative techniques, but they differ in their focus and the methods used to convey emotion in their artwork.

Comparative Table: Impressionism vs Expressionism

Here is a table that highlights the differences between Impressionism and Expressionism:

Both art movements were a rejection of classical art traditions and were considered avant-garde in their portrayal of modern life. They shared the use of innovative techniques, but Impressionism focused on capturing the fleeting moment of real-world subjects, while Expressionism was more concerned with the artist's emotional response to the dehumanizing effects of industrialization.