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Expressionism was an early 20th-century avant-garde movement in art, literature, music, and theater that originated in Germany. Its central tenet was the expression of subjective experience and emotional response rather than the objective representation of reality. Expressionist artists sought to convey inner turmoil, anxieties, and psychological states through distorted forms, exaggerated colors, and dramatic brushwork. The movement arose in part as a reaction against Impressionism's focus on capturing fleeting visual impressions and the perceived materialism and industrialization of the era.

Key figures in Expressionist painting include Edvard Munch, whose "The Scream" is an iconic representation of existential dread, and the German Expressionists associated with groups like Die Brücke (The Bridge) and Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider). Die Brücke artists such as Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Erich Heckel emphasized raw emotion and often depicted urban alienation and social critique. Der Blaue Reiter, with members like Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc, explored spirituality and the symbolic potential of color. In literature, Expressionism manifested in works that explored themes of madness, isolation, and societal decay, often employing fragmented narratives and intense, visceral language. Music composers like Arnold Schoenberg pushed boundaries with atonality and dissonance to convey emotional intensity. Expressionism's impact was significant, influencing subsequent art movements and leaving a lasting legacy on the understanding of art as a vehicle for personal and collective psychological expression.