Neo-Expressionism burst on the art scene in the late 1970s with vivid, energetic paintings that represented a rejection of the austerity and objectivity of Minimalism and Conceptualism. These artists looked back to the first Expressionist movement, formed at the beginning of the twentieth century by a group of German and Austrian artists. Artists associated with this first Expressionist movement, including Emil Nolde, Egon Schiele, and Ernst Kirchner, sought to elicit emotional responses through their bold imagery, bright and often unnatural colors, and striking brushwork. The Neo-Expressionists similarly championed personal expression in their work, and used intense colors to create their extremely painterly works. After decades in which abstract painting ruled the art world, Neo-Expressionism also marked a return to figuration. For example, Jean-Michel Basquiat, who began his career as a graffiti artist but became internationally famous in his early 20s, developed a personal visual vocabulary that repeats throughout his oeuvre. Symbols such as the three-pointed crown and the Catholic sacred heart recurred in his fiercely painted artworks. Julian Schnabel, a leader of the Neo-Expressionists, painted large works on unconventional supports like velvet, or broken ceramic plates adhered to wood panels. He incorporated Catholic iconography and symbols from traditional Mexican culture into his imagery in an effort to tap into timeless human themes. Neo-Expressionism was an international movement, with practitioners in the United States, Germany, and Italy. Other artists associated with Neo-Expressionism are Francesco Clemente, George Basilitz, Philip Guston, Anselm Kiefer, and David Salle.