Question

Which factor dissuaded artists from using expressionism in their artwork prior to the mid-1800s?

Answer 1

Expressionism came out of a reaction to the Industrialisation of the modern world, and artists felt the desire and need to express themselves through their art. Stylistically, Expressionism encompasses a vast array of styles, and throughout the movement, fauvism, cubism, surrealism amongst many other "-isms" overlapped. In the context of the more formalised methods of representation prior to the 1850's and the ideas at that time in the world of philosophy and writing, I would say the correct answer is: 

B) They faced staunch criticism for any self-expression diverting from the assigned intent of the work. 

As ideas of self-expression were not entirely formed or widely accepted in the art world at that time, I would think that self-expression would have been deemed ghastly or vulgar to such audiences.