Athens, the ancient capital of Greece, is not only known for its rich history and archaeological wonders but also for its vibrant and ever-evolving street art scene. From colorful murals and thought-provoking graffiti to intricate stencils and paste-ups, the city’s streets have become a living canvas for artists to express their creativity and make bold statements. In this article, we will delve into the dynamic world of street art in Athens, exploring its origins, notable artists, and the neighborhoods that have embraced this artistic movement.
Expressionism
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Copy Citation
Share
Share
Share to social media
Give Feedback
External Websites
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
- Art Encyclopedia – Expressionism in Art
- 1914-1918 Online – International Encyclopedia of the First World War – Expressionism
- Khan Academy – Expressionism, an introduction
- TheArtStory – Expressionism
- National Galleries Scotland – Expressionism
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
- expressionism – Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
Print
print Print
Please select which sections you would like to print:
Cite
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Copy Citation
Share
Share
Share to social media
Feedback
External Websites
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
- Art Encyclopedia – Expressionism in Art
- 1914-1918 Online – International Encyclopedia of the First World War – Expressionism
- Khan Academy – Expressionism, an introduction
- TheArtStory – Expressionism
- National Galleries Scotland – Expressionism
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
- expressionism – Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica’s editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: Article History
Table of Contents
Edvard Munch: The Scream
Category: Arts & Culture
Expressionism, artistic style in which the artist seeks to depict not objective reality but rather the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse within a person. The artist accomplishes this aim through distortion, exaggeration, primitivism, and fantasy and through the vivid, jarring, violent, or dynamic application of formal elements. In a broader sense Expressionism is one of the main currents of art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and its qualities of highly subjective, personal, spontaneous self-expression are typical of a wide range of modern artists and art movements. Expressionism can also be seen as a permanent tendency in Germanic and Nordic art from at least the European Middle Ages, particularly in times of social change or spiritual crisis, and in this sense it forms the converse of the rationalist and classicizing tendencies of Italy and later of France.
More specifically, Expressionism as a distinct style or movement refers to a number of German artists, as well as Austrian, French, and Russian ones, who became active in the years before World War I and remained so throughout much of the interwar period.
Birth and development
The roots of the German Expressionist school lay in the works of Vincent van Gogh, Edvard Munch, and James Ensor, each of whom in the period 1885–1900 evolved a highly personal painting style. These artists used the expressive possibilities of colour and line to explore dramatic and emotion-laden themes, to convey the qualities of fear, horror, and the grotesque, or simply to celebrate nature with hallucinatory intensity. They broke away from the literal representation of nature in order to express more subjective outlooks or states of mind.
The second and principal wave of Expressionism began about 1905, when a group of German artists led by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner formed a loose association called Die Brücke (“The Bridge”). The group included Erich Heckel, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, and Fritz Bleyl. These painters were in revolt against what they saw as the superficial naturalism of academic Impressionism. They wanted to reinfuse German art with a spiritual vigour they felt it lacked, and they sought to do this through an elemental, highly personal and spontaneous expression. Die Brücke’s original members were soon joined by the Germans Emil Nolde, Max Pechstein, and Otto Müller. The Expressionists were influenced by their predecessors of the 1890s and were also interested in African wood carvings and the works of such Northern European medieval and Renaissance artists as Albrecht Dürer, Matthias Grünewald, and Albrecht Altdorfer. They were also aware of Neo-Impressionism, Fauvism, and other recent movements.
Britannica Quiz
Ultimate Art Quiz
The German Expressionists soon developed a style notable for its harshness, boldness, and visual intensity. They used jagged, distorted lines; rough, rapid brushwork; and jarring colours to depict urban street scenes and other contemporary subjects in crowded, agitated compositions notable for their instability and their emotionally charged atmosphere. Many of their works express frustration, anxiety, disgust, discontent, violence, and generally a sort of frenetic intensity of feeling in response to the ugliness, the crude banality, and the possibilities and contradictions that they discerned in modern life. Woodcuts, with their thick jagged lined and harsh tonal contrasts, were one of the favourite media of the German Expressionists.
The works of Die Brücke artists stimulated Expressionism in other parts of Europe. Oskar Kokoschka and Egon Schiele of Austria adopted their tortured brushwork and angular lines, and Georges Rouault and Chaim Soutine in France each developed painting styles marked by intense emotional expression and the violent distortion of figural subject matter. The painter Max Beckmann, the graphic artist Käthe Kollwitz, and the sculptors Ernst Barlach and Wilhelm Lehmbruck, all of Germany, also worked in Expressionist modes. The artists belonging to the group known as Der Blaue Reiter (“The Blue Rider”) are sometimes regarded as Expressionists, although their art is generally lyrical and abstract, less overtly emotional, more harmonious, and more concerned with formal and pictorial problems than that of Die Brücke artists.
Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content.
Expressionism was a dominant style in Germany in the years immediately following World War I, where it suited the postwar atmosphere of cynicism, alienation, and disillusionment. Some of the movement’s later practitioners, such as George Grosz and Otto Dix, developed a more pointed, socially critical blend of Expressionism and realism known as the Neue Sachlichkeit (“New Objectivity”). As can be seen from such labels as Abstract Expressionism and Neo-Expressionism, the spontaneous, instinctive, and highly emotional qualities of Expressionism have been shared by several subsequent art movements in the 20th century.
The Origins and Evolution of Athens’ Street Art:
Street art in Athens has its roots in the city’s history of political activism and social unrest. During times of economic crisis and political turmoil, street art emerged as a form of protest and a means of self-expression. What began as simple graffiti tags soon evolved into elaborate murals and artistic interventions that transformed the urban landscape. Today, street art in Athens encompasses a wide range of styles, themes, and techniques, reflecting the diversity and creativity of its artists.
Exploring the Neighborhoods:
To truly appreciate Athens’ street art scene, it is essential to explore the neighborhoods that have become open-air galleries for these artistic expressions. Exarcheia, a neighborhood known for its anarchist spirit and alternative culture, is a hub of street art, with its walls adorned with politically charged and socially conscious artworks. Psiri, with its bohemian atmosphere, also offers a vibrant street art experience, where colorful murals and creative installations can be discovered around every corner. Additionally, Metaxourgeio, Gazi, and Kerameikos are neighborhoods that have embraced street art and are worth exploring to witness the eclectic mix of styles and messages.
Notable Artists and Collectives:
Athens has fostered a community of talented street artists and collectives whose works have gained recognition both locally and internationally. Artists like INO, who combines realism with abstract elements to create powerful and emotive murals, have made a significant impact on the city’s street art landscape. Other notable artists include WD, a stencil artist known for his intricate and thought-provoking works, and Sonke, whose colorful and playful characters add a touch of whimsy to the streets of Athens. Collectives such as Athens Street Art Festival and UrbanAct have also played a vital role in organizing events, inviting international artists, and curating the city’s street art projects.
Shows
Hero
Hero is the most visible feature placement for listeners to discover your show and is found at the top of Browse on Apple Podcasts. We strongly encourage using art that is different from your show’s cover art in order to create variety and interest while your show is featured.
Guidelines
- Fill the entire template with art.
- Keep logos vertically aligned to the middle of the Art Safe Area.
- UI elements such as text, gradient, or your show’s cover art may appear in the UI area. Keep artwork low contrast.
Specs
- Placement: Browse
- Device support: iOS, iPadOS, and macOS
- Size: 4320 x 1080 pixels
- File type: Layered PSD
Sample and template
Full Page Show Art
Full Page Show Art provides a large canvas to celebrate your show and engage with listeners.
Guidelines
- Ensure that key elements such as faces and logos are in the Art Safe Area.
- Do not overload the Art Safe Area with too many elements.
- Do not include any logos other than the show’s logo.
- Do not include promotional copy.
Specs
- Placement: Show Page
- Device support: iOS, iPadOS
- Size: 2048 x 2732 pixels
- File type: Layered PSD
Sample and template
Channels
Channel Cover
A Channel Cover represents your channel’s brand and content, and functions similarly to a Show Cover. Keep this artwork simple and legible.
Guidelines
- Focus on the title and key art, keeping those elements at the center of the template.
- If including a secondary logo such as a network logo, create a lockup with the primary logo so that they appear related.
Specs
- Placement: Browse, Listen Now
- Device support: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS
- Size: 3000 x 3000 pixels
- File type: Layered PSD
Sample and template
Hero
Hero art is the most visible feature placement for listeners to discover your channel and is found at the top of Browse on Apple Podcasts.
Guidelines
- Fill the entire template with art.
- Keep logos vertically aligned to the middle of the Art Safe Area.
- UI elements such as text and gradient may appear in the UI area. Keep artwork low contrast.
Specs
- Placement: Browse
- Device support: iOS, iPadOS, and macOS
- Size: 4320 x 1080 pixels
- File type: Layered PSD
Sample and template
Channel Background
Channel Background art is used as an ambient visual header on your Channel Page. You could think of it as your Channel wallpaper. Your Channel Logo will be layered on top of this artwork. If you don’t provide Channel Background art, it will default to the background color selected in Apple Podcasts Connect.
Guidelines
- Use low-contrast imagery that has an ambient or atmospheric appearance.
- Do not include text.
- Fill the template completely.
Use an ambient background for your channel background.
Do not use high contrast, busy artwork.
Specs
- Placement: Channel Page
- Device support: iOS, iPadOS, and macOS
- Size: 4320 x 3240 pixels
- File type: Layered PSD
Sample and template
Subscriptions
Subscription Upsell artwork makes the best use of screen space on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This art should have a similar branding and design as the required Subscription Primary Promotion art uploaded in Apple Podcasts Connect.
Subscription Upsell
A Subscription Upsell appears when a listener tries to play content that requires a subscription. This is an opportunity to directly communicate the benefits of subscribing to your show or channel.
Guidelines
- Feature the name of your subscription offering.
- Give your subscription a distinct visual branding separate from shows and channels.
- Ensure that key elements such as faces and logos are in the Art Safe Area.
- Keep in mind that UI elements will overlay on a large area of the lower portion of this artwork.
Specs
- Placement: Channel Page, Show Page
- Device support: iOS, iPadOS, and macOS
- Size: 2048 x 2732 pixels
- File type: Layered PSD
Sample and template
Note: The artwork and any text and subscription pricing displayed above are for illustrative purposes only and may differ from what is actually displayed on Apple Podcasts. Subscriptions and channel availability, pricing, and artwork vary by country or region. Some features are not available in all regions and for some languages. The placement of any promotional artwork on Apple Podcasts is determined by Apple in its sole discretion. Ensure that artwork you provide to Apple is free and clear for Apple’s global use both on and off our platforms, including on Apple Podcasts and in Apple marketing materials, and that no other party has rights that would affect Apple’s right to use those assets.
