"Expressionism is not only an artistic movement but a permanent tendency in art that has been characteristic of Northern Europe in times of social stress and political disturbance. The first Expressionist movement incorporated Art Nouveau and Symbolist influence, including Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Ensor and Munch. The artists of Die Brucke in Germany and, France, Rouault and Picasso (in his Blue Period), led up to the formation of the Blaue Reiter group in Munich just before the Second World War. In Vienna, Schiele and Kokoschka rose to prominence, while in Paris exiles such as Soutine, Pascin and Chagall brought Expressionism westwards. This book covers the painters, and graphic artists, sculptors and architects, writers and playwrights, cinema producers, designers and musicians of Expressionism."--BOOK JACKET.