Collection: Expressionism & Surrealism

Originating in Nortern Europe in the early 20th Century, Expressionism's typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas. Expressionist artists have sought to express the meaning of emotional experience rather than physical reality.

In the aftermath of WWI, Expressionism evolved into a new movement called Surrealism. Its aim was, according to leader André Breton, to "resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality into an absolute reality, a super-reality", or surreality.

Notable artists in our collection include:

• Frida Kahlo
  
• Edvard Munch
• Ernst Ludwig Kirchner