German Expressionism Exhibition Opens 10/19 at the Frist Center

Opening October 19, 2012, German Expressionism from the Detroit Institute of Arts will be on view in the Frist Center for the Visual Arts' Upper-Level Galleries through February 10, 2013. Featuring paintings, sculpture and works on paper from the Detroit Institute of Arts' distinguished collection of German Expressionist art, the exhibition explores the full breadth of this artistic movement from 1905 to 1950 and includes works by Max Beckmann, Wassily Kandinsky, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Käthe Kollwitz, Franz Marc and other major masters.

One of the major movements in modern art, German Expressionism is known for two groups of painters: Die Brücke (The Bridge) and Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider). Die Brücke was founded in Dresden by four young architecture students who worked and exhibited together. Although not formally trained as artists, the members of Die Brücke developed the movement's distinctive style which is defined by vivid colors, distorted forms and vigorous brush strokes. "The artists of Die Brücke sought a more intuitive form of expression," explains Frist Center curator Trinita Kennedy. "Following in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh and Edvard Munch, they focused on conveying psychological states and emotions rather than outward appearances, which became the fundamental premise of German Expressionism."

Additional information is available by calling (615) 244-3340 or by visiting our Web site at
www.fristcenter.org.