Definition
An art movement where artists show strong emotions and inner experiences rather than trying to copy real life exactly. It often uses bold colors, twisted shapes, and dramatic lines.
Etymology
From *expression* plus *-ism*, forming a name for an artistic style or movement. It arose in early 20th-century Europe as a reaction against realistic representation.
Kelly Says
Expressionism says, ‘I’ll paint how it feels, not how it looks.’ A green face or a warped city in these paintings isn’t a mistake—it’s a visual way to shout what’s going on inside the artist.
Translations
ARالعربية
التعبيرية
al-ta'abirīya
BNবাংলা
প্রকাশবাদ
pro-ka-sh-ba-ad
CACatalà
expressionisme
ek-spres-ee-oh-nee-sme
CSČeština
expresionismus
ek-spres-ee-oh-nee-zmus
DADansk
ekspressionisme
ek-spres-ee-oh-nee-sme
DEDeutsch
Expressionismus
ek-spreh-see-oh-nee-zmus
ELΕλληνικά
εκφραστικός
ek-frat-sik-os
ESEspañol
expresionismo
ek-spreh-see-moh-thee-moh
FAفارسی
تعبیرگرایی
ta-ab-eer-ga-ra-yee
FISuomi
ilmaisu
il-ma-i-su
FRFrançais
expressionnisme
ek-spres-ee-ohn-nee-sm
GUGU
વ્યક્તિપરક
vyak-ti-parak
HEעברית
אקספרסיביזם
eks-preh-see-viz-m
HIहिन्दी
व्यक्तित्ववाद
vyaktitva-vad
HUMagyar
expresszionizmus
ek-spreh-zee-oh-nee-zmus
IDBahasa Indonesia
ekspresionisme
ek-spreh-see-oh-nee-sme
IGIG
ikpe-akwụ
ee-kpee-ak-woo
ITItaliano
espressionismo
ek-spres-see-oh-nee-zmoh
KMKM
បទពិសោធន៍
ba-te-vi-so-dhon
KO한국어
표현주의
pyo-hyeon-ju-i
MRMR
प्रकटीकरण
prak-tee-karan
MSBahasa Melayu
ekspresionisme
ek-spreh-see-oh-nee-sme
MYမြန်မာ
ပရိသတ်
pa-ri-tha-t
NLNederlands
expressionisme
ek-spres-ee-oh-nee-sme
NONorsk
ekspresjonisme
ek-spres-ee-oh-nee-sme
PAPA
ਅਭिव્યક્તિ
ab-hi-vyak-tee
PLPolski
ekspresjonizm
ek-spres-ee-ohn-izm
PTPortuguês
expressionismo
ek-spres-see-oh-mee-zmoh
RORomână
expresionism
ek-spreh-see-oh-nism
RUРусский
экспрессионизм
ek-spres-see-oh-nizm
SVSvenska
expressionism
ek-spres-ee-oh-nizm
SWKiswahili
ukiri wa hisia
oo-kee-ree wa hee-see-ah
TAதமிழ்
விளிம்பியல்
vi-li-mbi-yal
TEతెలుగు
వ్యక్తీకరణవాదం
vyakthika-ra-na-va-dam
THไทย
ศิลปะสมัยนิยม
si-rit-sam-ai-ni-yom
TLTL
ekspresyonismo
ek-spres-ee-oh-nee-smo
TRTürkçe
ekspresionizm
ek-spreh-zee-ohn-izm
UKУкраїнська
експресіонізм
eks-pres-ee-ohn-izm
URاردو
اظہار پسندی
i-za-har-pas-dan-di
VITiếng Việt
tư duy biểu hiện
tu duy bien hien
YOYO
àṣọ̀ ìṣẹ̀
a-sho-ee-she
ZUZU
ukusebenza
oo-koo-se-ben-za
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Art historical accounts of Expressionism have often foregrounded male painters and composers, marginalizing women expressionists and their contributions. Women artists were frequently labeled as “muses” or exceptions rather than central figures in the movement.
Inclusive Usage
When discussing Expressionism, include women and non‑male artists, writers, and performers in examples and avoid presenting the movement as exclusively male.
Empowerment Note
Women such as Käthe Kollwitz, Gabriele Münter, and others were key expressionist artists whose work shaped the movement; naming them challenges male‑only canons.