Abstract
Expressionism is an avant-garde movement in which violence is everywhere in themes, in forms, in the expression of the artist in general. We can define violence by aggressive facts, language immoderation, brutality and provocation. When we talk about violence in art, the violence is not necessarily a conflict between two or more people. Expressionism gives images of fear, suffering and anxiety. It breaks with the other movements like impressionism, naturalism and symbolism by becoming aware of a subjective identity and singularity of people who are very alone. We can question the measure in which violence in expressionism is the expression of the inner ego of the artist. The art critic, Nicolaï Pounine, considered expressionism as the first trend of the avant-garde. Indeed, expressionism represents the expression of the ego of the artist. In the next avant-gardes, the artist will create a new world. Actually, in expressionism, the artist does not create a new world like Salvador Dali will do, but he describes in his works, the world of the ego. Art in expressionism is considered as « le domaine inexpugnable de l'homme intérieur, royaume des pulsions instinctives et originelles menacées d'étouffement par le progrès technique autant que par la culture de masse » . In expressionism, the artist will express his violent grievances, suffering, and his revolt to the modern world.
