Neo-Expressionism ( by David)

Neo-Expressionism was an art movement that emerged in the nineteen-seventies and lasted well through the eighties. It was made in retaliation to minimalism and conceptual art. Young painters sick of the highly abstract art of the seventies brought back more traditional methods of painting such as easal painting. The painting style was intense and harsh, most of the time they were distorted figures or other recognizable objects but often overwhelmed by surface activity, most works had a very intense, erotic or violent appearance.

Neo-Expressionism was very popular in Europe and the US during the early to mid-eighties. Through out its course the style took on many different names including Punk art and new fauvism in America, Transavantgarde ( beyond the avant-garde) in Italy and Neue Wilden (new wild ones) in Germany.

Pablo Picasso's later works greatly influence Neo-Expressionism with his hurried visible brush work and distorted sexual figures. The new style also used ancient mythology, historic depictions and even novel covers as sources for their work.

German painters, Georg Baseline and Anselm Kiefer are considered the greatest contributers to Neo-Expressionism followed closely by Julian Schnabel, a very successful American painter. Other notable artist include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Arnold Mesches and Susan Rothenbuerg.


Georg Baseline

Anselm Kiefer

Julian Schnabel