Neo-expressionism facts for kids

Neo-expressionism is a style of modern art, including painting and sculpture, that became popular in the late 1970s. Artists in this movement wanted to create art that was full of personal feelings and energy.

Neo-expressionist artists were sometimes known by other names in different countries. In Italy, they were called Transavantgarde, and in Germany, they were known as the Neue Wilden, which means "The New Wild Ones." The style is famous for showing deep emotions and for its rough, energetic use of paint and other materials.

This art style was a reaction against the popular art of the 1970s, like conceptual art and minimal art. These earlier styles often focused more on ideas than on creating a physical object, or they used very simple shapes and colors. Neo-expressionists wanted to bring back recognizable objects, especially the human body, into their art. They painted these subjects in a rough, emotional, and often abstract way, using very bright and vivid colors.

The movement was heavily inspired by earlier German Expressionist painters, such as Emil Nolde, Max Beckmann, and Edvard Munch, who also used art to express strong feelings. It also has connections to other styles like American lyrical abstraction and Pop Painting.

What is Neo-Expressionism?

Neo-expressionism was a major art movement that spread across the world in the late 1970s and 1980s. It marked a return to painting as a way to tell stories and show powerful human emotions.

A Reaction to "Idea Art"

In the years before Neo-expressionism, many artists believed the idea behind a piece of art was more important than the art itself. This was called conceptual art. Another popular style, minimal art, used very simple, clean shapes and forms.

Many younger artists felt that this kind of art lacked emotion and personal touch. They wanted to create art that was more expressive, messy, and human. They reacted by returning to the traditional practices of painting and sculpture, but with a new, wild energy.

Key Features of the Style

Neo-expressionist art is easy to spot once you know what to look for. Here are some of its main features:

• Focus on Emotion: The main goal was to show the artist's inner world and feelings, whether it was joy, anger, or fear.
• Rough and Messy: Artists used thick layers of paint, aggressive brushstrokes, and sometimes even mixed materials like sand, straw, or broken plates into their work.
• The Human Figure: After years of abstract art being popular, Neo-expressionists brought the human body back as a central subject. The figures are often shown in a distorted or simplified way to increase their emotional power.
• Bright Colors: They used intense, vibrant colors to help express feelings and make their paintings more dramatic.

Neo-Expressionism Around the World

The movement was an international trend, with groups of artists working in similar styles in different countries.

• In Italy, the movement was called Transavanguardia, which means "beyond the avant-garde."
• In Germany, the artists were called the Neue Wilden ("New Wild Ones").
• In France, a group called Figuration Libre ("Free Figuration") was formed in 1981.
• In Toronto, Canada, a group of artists known as the ChromaZone/Chromatique Collective was active from 1981 to 1986.

Key Neo-Expressionist Painters

Many artists became famous as part of this movement. Some of the most important ones include:

• Georg Baselitz
• Jean-Michel Basquiat
• Sandro Chia
• Enzo Cucchi
• Francesco Clemente
• Eric Fischl
• Philip Guston
• Anselm Kiefer
• Robert Longo
• Rick Prol
• Julian Schnabel

See also

In Spanish: Neoexpresionismo para niños

• Expressionism
• Postmodernism
• Postmodern art
• New European Painting