Neo-Expressionism
Neo-Expressionism reappeared in the late 20th century and was considered an important art movement that was marked by a revival of emotional feeling and raw depiction of brushstrokes, resembling earlier styles of Impressionism. The movement sought to recover the emotive features of art while rejecting the imprecision of Minimalism and Conceptual art that was common in the preceding decades. Thematic approaches of individuality, spirituality, and societal critique were recurrent among neo-expressionist that were accompanied by vivid emphasis on metaphors and visual imagery, leaving 'subjective experience’ and humanity as the core problem unlike 'objective representation'.
Above all their salient features, Neo-Expressionism is most notably remembered for their figurative paintings, personally told visions as in the works of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel, and Anselm Kiefer who are frequently identified with Neo-Expressionism due to their violent images, abrupt brush strokes, and probing attention toward problems of existence. Although many artists used these devices Basquiat freed them from any traditional artistic "norms" and allowed them to operate in a completely free and emotional way. This new era was the answer to the Proto - Neo Expressionist time of perception of art as purely conceptual emprically observed at that time.
The overall impression is that Neo Expressionism is a crucial phase in art history as it indicates a move towards a more expressive and personal form of art. Neo-Expressionist artists blended abstraction and figurative art with an emphasis of deep emotions to create pieces that are still awe inspiring in their strength and personal accounts today.
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