Expressionism. A Film Art

The Canal Foundation is hosting an exhibition that showcases the relationship between expressionism, an avant-garde artistic movement that prevailed in the early 20th century, in the Sala Mateo Inurria 2 from 8 October to 4 January 2026.

This exhibition focusing on the revelation of the intense dialogue between expressionism and film in the first decades of the 20th century is presented in Spain for the first time.  Visitors will be able to observe how this avant-garde movement sought to bring art and film together in a total experience, building an aesthetic and emotional universe that lives on over a century later.  From The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to Metropolis, as well as the urban landscapes of Otto Dix or the torn faces of Käthe Kollwitz, the exhibition delves into a disturbing, radical and fascinating world.

The route presents 152 cinematographic works and fragments, offering a unique journey into expressionism, whose influence is visible in contemporary art and in the films of directors, such as Tim Burton, Guillermo del Toro or David Lynch.

Expressionism was a revolutionary cultural movement that sought to bring art and life together, blurring the boundaries between different artistic disciplines to build a unique aesthetic and emotional universe. Intense colours, distorted perspectives and emotions pushed to the limit were used to reveal what lies hidden behind reality.  Following this model, films acquired great potential, creating disturbing, dreamlike, and visionary images that still fascinate us today.