How did El Greco’s style influence later Expressionist artists?

El Greco’s highly individual style, characterized by extreme distortion of the human figure and the use of brilliant, dissonant colors, is widely considered to have prefigured Expressionism.12

While his work was often met with puzzlement by his contemporaries, his approach to painting—which prioritized emotional power and imagination over the strict laws of nature—gained significant appreciation in the 20th century. By disregarding classical traditions in favor of dramatic, elongated forms and a subjective, mystical intensity, El Greco established a visual language that resonated with later artists seeking to express internal states rather than merely describe the physical world. His ability to evoke a supernatural atmosphere through strange shapes and clashing colors served as a historical precursor to the expressive techniques later adopted by the Expressionist movement.132