An extensive and new overview of expressionism, tracing its evolution from the nineteenth century to the present. Expressionist artists believed in the ability of the artistic object to communicate emotions, regardless of any representational or narrative content. In this comprehensive introduction to one of the most radical artistic movements of our time, author, artist, curator, and educator Colin Rhodes follows the flow of expressionist thought from the nineteenth century to the present, mapping its various expressions in Europe and the USA, as well as in parts of Africa, Asia, and South America. Paying particular attention to fine issues of gender, sexuality, and cultural appropriation, Rhodes challenges the accepted art-historical narrative and reevaluates it in the context of broader artistic practice of the 20th and 21st century. Richly illustrated, the diverse selection of artists mentioned in this book includes Wassily Kandinsky, Erma Bossi, Francis Bacon, and Mark Rothko, as well as Ursula Schultze-Bluhm, Gillian Ayres, Purvis Young, and Jadé Fadojutimi.