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Expressionism is an artistic movement characterized by its emphasis on emotional intensity and subjective interpretation, rather than objective reality. It emerged in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century as a reaction to the rigid constraints of academic art and the horrors of World War I. Expressionist artists sought to convey their inner feelings and experiences through distorted forms, bold colors, and exaggerated expressions. Expressionism is most commonly associated with painting, but it also encompasses other art forms such as sculpture, printmaking, theater, film, and literature. In all of these mediums, expressionist artists aimed to express their personal emotions and experiences rather than depicting the world as it appears. They often used non-naturalistic colors and shapes to evoke moods and feelings, and they frequently employed techniques such as fragmentation, distortion, and exaggeration to create a sense of tension and unease. Expressionist artists were influenced by a variety of sources, including African art, primitivism, Symbolism, and Fauvism. Some notable expressionist painters include Edvard Munch, Wassily Kandinsky, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and Egon Schiele. In literature, writers such as Franz Kafka and Georg Trakl are often classified as expressionists. Overall, Expressionism is a powerful and emotive movement that continues to inspire artists and audiences today. Its emphasis on personal expression and subjective interpretation has had a lasting impact on modern art and culture.