German Expressionist Woodcuts

by Shane Weller (Editor)

German Expressionism was an extraordinarily vivid presence in the art of the early twentieth century, its violent colors and often distorted, stylized forms reflecting not only the rebellious spirit of its participants, but the revolutionary mood of the new century itself. One of the most popular media used by the German Expressionists was the woodcut, important in the history of German art from the time of Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), and especially suited to Expressionism's bold graphics.
This superb collection presents over 100 finely reproduced woodcuts from the work of nearly 30 major artists in the movement who worked in the woodcut medium. Among them are Ernst Barlach, Max Beckmann, Lyonel Feininger, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Käthe Kollwitz, Franz Marc, Emil Nolde, Max Pechstein, and many others. Most of the woodcuts reproduced here date from the first three decades of the twentieth century. They are powerful works, ranging in mood from Felix Müller's pensive portrait of Carl Sternheim (1925) to Franz Marc's electric Riding School (1913) and Ernst Barlach's profoundly moving Christ on the Mount of Olives (1920).
Readers interested in the art of the woodcut as well as students and enthusiasts of twentieth-century art will find this volume ideal for browsing and study. Individual captions for each selection, notes on each artist, and an informative introduction to the art of the woodcut and the German Expressionist movement add to the book's value as a reference work.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History, Germany, History

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 16, 1994

Reviews

[reveurdart · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book comes with a brief introduction and a synopsis for each artist present in the book. The rest of the book is filled with beautiful expressionist woodcut art.

"The movement was marked by a bewildering profusion of associations and publications. Along with Die Brücke there was Der Blaue Reiter (the blue rider), formed 1911, a close association of artists with little in the way of a specific program other than the desire to show together and a tendency toward abstraction. Other groups included the Berlin and Munich Secessions, the Red Group, the November Group and the New Artists’ Association. Among the publications were Der Sturm (the storm), 1910–32, and Die Aktion."

To my surprise, there was an Asta Nielsen woodcut from 1919 by Erich Heckel.

[Richard Newbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is essentially a book of illustrations - of woodcuts, over 100 of them, prefaced by a minimal description of the German expressionist scene. The illustrations are excellent quality, but the non-expert such as myself would have appreciated more of a narrative to accompany the excellent graphics

[Dylan Rock · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant collection that shows the breath of German Expressionism possible one of the most influential but seldom discussed art movements.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Сергей Чех]

imression

[Meli · Rating 5 out of 5]

نشر علمی فرهنگی اینو چاپ کرد با سانسور. زندگی جالبی داریم تو حکومت آخوندی.

[Nathan Bernacet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Woodcuts are what i preach and teach. Max Beckmann and Otto Dix are the way.