How did Vincent van Gogh influence Expressionist painting?

Vincent van Gogh was a foundational influence on the Expressionist movement, serving as a key predecessor whose personal style helped shape the movement's core tenets.123

His influence on Expressionism was primarily driven by his departure from the literal representation of nature. Instead, he utilized the expressive potential of color and line to convey subjective states of mind and intense emotional responses. Specifically, van Gogh transformed traditional brushwork into vibrant, curving lines and employed brilliant, exaggerated colors to communicate his internal experiences.14

By the late 19th century, his work—along with that of Edvard Munch and James Ensor—provided a model for artists who sought to move beyond the perceived superficiality of Impressionism. This approach encouraged later Expressionist groups, such as Die Brücke, to adopt a spontaneous, highly personal, and emotionally charged style characterized by visual intensity and the distortion of subject matter to reflect modern life's complexities.1