Emil Nolde: The Power of Form Over Content

Emil Nolde - Crucifixion - 1912 - Oil on canvas - 220.5 x 193.5 cm - (87 x 76.2 in) - Nolde-Stiftung Seebull - Berlin, GermanyUnknown Master, Italian - Crucifix with the Stories of the Passion (detail) around 1200 - Tempera on wood - Galleria degli Uffizi, FlorenceThe power of form over content, of abstraction and of symbolism are all evident in this intense work by German Expressionist, Emil Nolde (1867-1956). We don’t have nearly the amount of fine detail. There is no city behind, no angels, no linear or atmospheric perspective. Yet, arguably, this scene is much more potent. The anguish we see on Nolde’s version of Christ is palpable. The other figures are simplified and  mask like  - I think this actually makes them more relatable as it reminds us of the masks we all wear. We could go on and on discussing how ‘form’ here takes precedent over the ‘content.’ In other words, it is not what Nolde shows, but how he shows it that causes us to react emotionally. Often compared with Renaissance works, this is actually much more medieval in style. If we look at the “Crucifix with Stories of the Passion” detail below--the similarity is marked, as is the effect.