Exploring the Similarities between Impressionism, Expressionism, and Cubism

These artistic movements represent, in that order, the progressive distancing of art from realism. While there is often confusion in discussions about art and specifically schools of art, 'Impressionism' and 'Cubism' are schools of art as understood within the context of academic art history, but 'expressionism' is a more general term not the name of an actual school of art. Van Gogh, for example, is considered an expressionist, though he is often included in the school of art called 'Post-Impressionism,' which is more a chronological designation than a stylistic one.

The Semantic Challenge in Art Analysis

The term 'expressionism' simply means that the main concern of the artist is to 'express' his or her emotional reaction to what he or she is depicting and to evoke an emotional response from the viewer. Expressionist art may contain recognizable objects, people, scenes, etc., or it may be completely non-representational or 'abstract.' This general term encompasses various forms, including 'German Expressionism' and 'Abstract Expressionism,' though no school is known simply as 'Expressionism.'

The Common Ground between Impressionism, Expressionism, and Cubism

Impressionism and Cubism share the primary similarity of being schools of art. A formal analysis of both reveals certain technical similarities that place them in the evolution of what art historians sometimes call 'Modern Art.' Unlike 'Modern Art,' which is not a school of art but a broader term used as a 'tradition' within the overall history of art, this discussion focuses on the specific techniques and philosophies of Impressionism and Cubism.

'Modern Art' is often referred to as the 'Avant-Garde' Tradition. The work of the Impressionists and Edouard Manet before them represents the first rebellions against the 'Renaissance-Baroque Tradition,' the attitudes and philosophies of which had become petrified and even repressive in the national academies of art in Western Europe during the 19th century. Subsequent schools of modern art, including Cubists, each learned from their predecessors and made further evolutionary steps away from the 'Renaissance-Baroque.' This is the defining characteristic of 'Avant Garde' art.

Aesthetic Concerns and Techniques

The Impressionists and Cubists had different artistic concerns. Impressionism was interested in depicting transient 'impressions' of reality, while Cubists were concerned with analyzing the actual forms that artists use, their relationships to one another, and the resulting deformation of depicted 'space.' Both movements share important places in the movement away from the art of the past and the evolution of a new kind of art with a new 'artistic vocabulary.'

Overall, while these movements evolved over time and had unique characteristics, they share a common thread in their rejection of traditional artistic norms and their pursuit of new artistic languages. This exploration of their commonalities provides a deeper understanding of the evolution of modern art, highlighting the importance of continuous innovation and experimentation in artistic expression.