neoexpressionism

Neo-Expressionism is an art movement that emerged in the late 1970s and gained prominence in the 1980s, primarily in West Germany, the United States, and Italy. It is characterized by a revival of intense, emotionally charged figurative painting, often with a focus on bold brushwork, raw colors, and subjective experience. Unlike the cool abstraction and conceptual art that preceded it, Neo-Expressionism sought to re-engage with traditional artistic mediums and subjects, but with a renewed sense of urgency and personal expression.

Key characteristics of Neo-Expressionism include a departure from polished surfaces and refined techniques in favor of a more visceral and gestural approach. Artists often depicted distorted figures, mythological themes, historical events, and personal anxieties, infusing their work with a sense of angst and psychological depth. The movement rejected the perceived sterility of minimalism and conceptualism, embracing the expressive potential of paint and the subjective experience of the artist.

Prominent artists associated with Neo-Expressionism include Anselm Kiefer, Georg Baselitz, and Sigmar Polke in Germany; Julian Schnabel, David Salle, and Jean-Michel Basquiat in the United States; and Francesco Clemente and Enzo Cucchi in Italy. While the movement itself had a relatively short but impactful period of dominance, its influence can be seen in subsequent generations of artists who continued to explore figurative painting and emotional content. Neo-Expressionism played a significant role in shifting the art world's attention back to painting as a viable and potent form of artistic communication.