Artists often borrowed (stylistically) from what they saw, such as, including geometric ornamentation and shapes, decorative patterning and shadows.
Expressionist artists often employed swirling, swaying, and exaggeratedly executed brushstrokes in the depiction of their subjects. These techniques were meant to convey the emotional state of the artist reacting to the anxieties of the modern world.
Overall, the German Expressionists style was notable for its harshness, boldness, and visual intensity.