Gasse mit Torbogen 

Gabriele Munter created this oil painting, Gasse mit Torbogen, employing bold strokes and blocks of color to depict a street with an archway. Munter, working in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century, was part of the avant-garde movement known as Expressionism, centered in Munich. Expressionism was self-consciously progressive and reacted against academic artistic institutions. Rejecting naturalism, these artists sought to convey subjective emotions through simplified forms and non-naturalistic colors, an aesthetic which was influenced by the cultural and political upheavals of the time. Munter and other Expressionists critiqued the social structures of their time through their art, challenging the conservative artistic establishment. They questioned traditional values, and explored new forms of artistic expression that reflected the changing realities of modern life. Understanding the art of this period involves delving into manifestos, exhibition reviews, and biographies of artists and collectors. This unveils how the Expressionists challenged norms, engaged with the cultural debates of their time, and ultimately expanded the possibilities of what art could be.