expressionism

1905 - 1940 european art movement favoring subjective impressions, employing strong colors and sharp contours - dominant in german movements Die Bruecke and Blauer Reiter - influenced by cubism , fauvism and symbolism 

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This is a style of art that is based on expressing the artists emotions. It is in direct opposition to the cerebral art of Geometric Abstraction. It is also not to be confused with Impressionism, which is also far different in its attempt to depict certain forms of lighting effects. Expressionism is not from a particular period, but started at the end of the nineteenth century with such artists as Vincent Van Gogh, and later with the Fauves, such as Henri Matisse. Most often the term is used as part of a movement's name such as the German Expressionist or the Abstract Expressionists. It is really any painting that is primarily based on the release of the artist's emotions.