German Expressionism in Art and Film

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the origins, characteristics, major films, key figures, and lasting cinematic influences of German Expressionism.

Expressionism (Origins)

An artistic movement that arose in Germany around WWI across architecture, painting, music, literature, and sculpture, in which artists attempted to portray the hopelessness of their surroundings before it flourished in film.

Paul Wegener

An early precursor and influential figure in German Expressionist cinema associated with the film Golem, which audiences loved.

Young Couple (1913)

A 1913 Expressionist painting created by Emile Nolde.

Expressionist Stage Design

Artificial sets described as "paintings come to life," utilizing angular structures and unnatural backdrops to exploit the mood of a picture and reveal emotions in an abstract manner.

Chiaroscuro lighting

An Expressionist lighting technique characterized by strong contrasts between light and dark, as well as the heavy use of shadows.

Formalism

A key characteristic of Expressionism emphasizing an intensely personal focus on aura, mood, and tone.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

An influential, low-budget 1919–1920 Expressionist film associated with Fritz Lang and Robert Weine, known for its disorienting sets constructed out of cardboard.

Cesare

The somnanbulist in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari who is unveiled by a deranged hypnotist in the town of Holstenwall.

Holstenwall

The town setting featured in the 1919–1920 Expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

Hans Janowitz and Carl Meyer

The writers of the 1919–1920 Expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

Nosferatu

An early German Expressionist film dealing with horror, sinister themes, and chiaroscuro techniques.

Metropolis (1927)

An early Expressionist film directed by Fritz Lang, noted for its significant budget and elaborate set designs.

Genres Influenced by Expressionism

Cinematic genres heavily shaped by German Expressionist techniques, specifically film noir, mystery, and horror.

Alfred Hitchcock

A director who integrated Expressionist elements, using shadows and light in I Confess (1953) and Psycho (1960), camera movements and sound in Vertigo and The Birds, and color in Marnie.

M (1931)

A 1931 film directed by Fritz Lang connected to the Expressionist movement and noted alongside Nazi influence.

Modern Examples of Expressionist Influence

Later films cited as carrying Expressionist influences, including Raging Bull, Pleasantville, The Dead Poet's Society, Cinderella Man, and Psycho.