Contrasting paths in twentieth century Expressionism: Henri Matisse and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (France, Germany)

In the early twentieth century the French, particularly Henri Matisse and the Fauves, developed a colorful and decorative form of Expressionism. Their art was primarily one of Formalism. In Germany Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Die Brucke, also starting from Post-Impressionism, developed an intensely personal and emotional form of Expressionism.; This thesis compares the art and ideas of Henri Matisse and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, in order to demonstrate literary, philosophical, political and ethnic influences on these two artists.; Matisse was primarily concerned with color and composition. Although he was an innovator, Matisse did not rebel against the social and political conditions in France. Kirchner, on the other hand, was a troubled person. He protested bitterly against the social mores of his day. He and his Die Brucke colleagues tried to break away from the dominance of French art in Europe and establish a new German art.