What is Emotionalism?

emotionalism - An aesthetic and critical theory of art which places emphasis on the
expressive qualities. According to this theory, the most important thing about a work of art is
the vivid communication of moods, feelings, and ideas.

Emotionalist critics require that a work of art must get a response from others. An
emotionalist would only attribute success and value to a work of art that awakens feelings,
moods, and emotions in the viewer.

What does an Emotionalist not care about?

 An emotionalist does not measure the value of a painting based on how real the
image looks.

 An emotionalist is not interested in how the artist used the elements and principles of
art to create balance, form, or color harmony.

 An emotionalist is not impressed by the amount of time and technical skill that goes
into a work of art.

Emotionalists only care about how well the artwork communicates emotion.
An Emotionalist would say….
“Oh my word, Kathe! The emotional
quality that you have embodied here in
your work is invaluable. I can really feel
Below is a work of art entitled “The Volunteers” the pull of the people’s souls and
understand their fervent suffering. The
by the artist Kathe Kollwitz.
emotional message is loud and clear.
What a successful work of art!”
Other Examples of Emotionalism: