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Expressionist Art

EXPRESSIONIST STYLE

While “expressionist” is used to describe any art that avoids naturalism and instead employs a bold use of flattened forms and intense brushwork, Expressionist art formally describes early-20th-century work from Europe that drew on Symbolism and confronted issues such as urbanization and capitalism. Expressionist artists experimented in paintings and prints with skewed perspectives, abstraction and unconventional, bright colors to portray how isolating and anxious the world felt rather than how it appeared. 

Between 1905 and 1920, Austrian and German artists, in particular, were inspired by Postimpressionists such as Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh in their efforts to strive for a new authenticity in their work. In its geometric patterns and decorative details, Expressionist art was also marked by eclectic sources like German and Russian folk art as well as tribal art from Africa and Oceania, which the movement’s practitioners witnessed at museums and world’s fairs.

Groups of artists came together to share and promote the themes now associated with Expressionism, such as Die Brücke (The Bridge) in Dresden, which included Erich Heckel, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and investigated alienation and the dissolution of society in vivid color. In Munich, Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), a group led by Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc, instilled Expressionism with a search for spiritual truths. In his iconic painting The Scream, prolific Norwegian painter Edvard Munch conveyed emotional turmoil through his depiction of environmental elements, such as the threatening sky.

Expressionism shifted around the outbreak of World War I, with artists using more elements of the grotesque in reaction to the escalation of unrest and violence. Printmaking was especially popular, as it allowed artists to widely disseminate works that grappled with social and political issues amid this time of upheaval. Although the art movement ended with the rise of Nazi Germany, where Expressionist creators were labeled “degenerate,” the radical ideas of these artists would influence Neo-Expressionism that emerged in the late 1970s with painters like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Francesco Clemente.

​​Find a collection of authentic Expressionist paintings, sculptures, prints and more art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Expressionist
Pretty in Pink, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Inspired by Ivon Hitchens' expressive landscapes, this artwork depicts a spring woodland scene with vibrant colors. A pink dogwood tree anchors the composition...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

colorful landscape 38/22, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
When someone mentions “different dimensions,â€
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

La Princesse et le Bouffon
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Theo Tobiasse (French/Israeli, 1927-2012) Title: La Princesse et le Bouffon Year: 1978 Medium: Color lithograph Edition: Numbered 60/175 in pencil Paper: Wove Image siz...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Field grass cover
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this oil painting, I've captured the vibrant essence of a meadow brought to life through harmonious colors and dynamic brushstrokes. It's the embodiment of nature's serenity and ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Golden Autumn
Located in Bayonne, NJ
This is a heavy impasto oil on canvas painting masterfully created by Yuriy Savchenko. The artist died in Detroit in 2018, where he lives the last 10 years of his life.
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

20th Century Mixed-media, Four Fish, Attributed to Dalva Duarte
Located in Cotignac, FR
Large late 20th century mixed-media work of four fish attributed to Dalva Duarte. Not signed. A fun, lively and colourful composition of four fish in acrylic and applied patches of ...
Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic, Cotton Canvas

The winter day
Located in Bayonne, NJ
This is an excellent, expressive oil on canvas, framed painting by Yuriy Savchenko. Very heavy impasto. In excellent condition.
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Setting Sun, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
In awe of the images from the James Webb Telescope, artist Diana Elena Chelaru creates a series inspired by the depths of the universe. The mystery and vibrant ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Autumn Breeze, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A group of trees stands close together, their autumn-tinted canopies blending into one. Their hazy surroundings mirror the softness of the cloud above. In the f...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Moonlight, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The artwork portrays an abstract depiction of the moon emerging in the sky. It invites exploration of artistic interpretations of a cosmic landscape. Captivated...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Waiting for spring
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this piece, I poured my soul into the vivid hues of the landscape, seeking to evoke the feeling of anticipation as nature teeters on the cusp of rebirth. With each stroke...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Music of the sea. Transparent water
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In crafting this piece, I poured my spirit into the interplay of light and water, setting oil to canvas to capture the dance of sunlight as it kisses the water's surface, creating a...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sea. Sailboat
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this oil painting, I've infused the canvas with the tranquil yet invigorating spirit of the sea. The sailboat, a focal point, carries within it a sense of adventure and freedom. ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Summer, sea, beach
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've captured a serene moment where tranquility and the vast expanse of the sea converge. The subject's contemplative pose, her gaze cast towards the shimmering...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Рicturesque pomegranate
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this passionate dance of colors, I've captured the vibrant essence of life itself through the allegory of pomegranates. Oil paint weaves a textural symphony, blending realism with...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Roses
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this oil painting, I sought to capture the soft elegance of roses – symbols of love and grace. Blending expressionism with touches of realism, the piece exudes a gentle strength....
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

My evening
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I've poured my soul into capturing the tranquil interplay of light on water as the day whispers to a close. The thick oil paints give life to the vivid hues and soft g...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Blossoming
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this oil painting, I've poured my heart into capturing the ephemeral beauty of nature's awakening. Each brushstroke is an expression of vitality, as delicate blossoms burst forth...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Absolute Monarchist - Original Offset and Lithograph by George Grosz - 1923
Located in Roma, IT
The absolute Monarchist is an original offset and lithograph realized by George Grosz. The artwork is the plate n.35 from the portfolio Ecce Homo published between 1922/1923, editio...
Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph, Paper, Offset

A corner of the Garden
Located in Zofingen, AG
In the lush embrace of nature's corner, I've rendered a dance of textures and hues with spirited oil strokes. Hues of pink, verdant greens, and touches of sunlight embody the tranqui...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Female Nude Study Black and Blue Pencil Drawing by P. Chem
By Alexandre Pavlovitch Chemetoff
Located in Atlanta, GA
Charming woman nude pencil study by Russian-French painter Alexandre Pavlovitch Chemetoff (or Chemetov,) also known as Chem (1891 - 1981). It is a striking representation in which on...
Category

1940s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Pencil, Carbon Pencil

Journey of the spirits opus II_5, Digital on Glass
Located in Yardley, PA
Lambda C-print on acryl . Complete with aluminium mounting system. Ready to hang. Outstanding quality. Geert is “VISUAL ART MASTER" OF ACCADEMIA ITALIA IN ARTE NEL MONDO ASSOCI...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Digital

Detroit Institute of Arts (Two People - The Lonely Ones) Poster /// Edvard Munch
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: (after) Edvard Munch (Norwegian, 1863-1944) Title: "Detroit Institute of Arts (Two People - The Lonely Ones)" Year: 1972 Medium: Original Screenprint, Exhibition Poster on sm...
Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Screen

Paysage a Ceret - Pyrennes - Expressionist Landscape Oil by Pinchus Kremegne
Located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Signed expressionist landscape oil on canvas circa 1950 by Lithuanian-French painter Pinchus Kremegne. This stunning and vibrantly coloured piece trees in Ceret in the Pyrenees in th...
Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Bouquet of mimosa
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this exuberant expression of life, I've captured the vibrant essence of spring. My brushstrokes dance across the canvas, conveying the delicate yet robust nature of the blooms. T...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Linen, Oil

Blooming balcony
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant oil painting, I've captured a lush, secluded nook that speaks to the soul's yearning for serenity. The interplay of light and shadow dances with the splendor of bloom...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

INTEGRACION Signed Lithograph, Abstract Portrait, Latin American Woman Artist
Located in Union City, NJ
Raquel Forner (1902-1988) Argentine woman painter and printmaker born in Buenos Aires in 1902 and died in the same city in 1988, regarded as one of the best Argentine female painters...
Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Untitled (Man of Color Series), Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Untitled (Man of Color Series) 12" x 12" Acrylic on Stretched Canvas 2022 :: Painting :: Expressionism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signe...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Blooming terrace
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this work, I wanted to capture the essence of serenity and vibrancy coexisting. The delicate dance of light and shadow through the blossoms is a fleeting moment I've brought to st...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Margo Is A Real Drag After 10:30" Modern Expressionist Figurative
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
"Margo Is A Real Drag After 10:30 is from Sandra Jones Campbell's upcoming collection, "Nocturne," a series that displays her unique vision of the world and is informed by her curren...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Windy Day
Located in Bayonne, NJ
Expressive oil on canvas composition by Yuriy Savchenko, which was acquired directly from the artist in Kharkiv in 2007. A true masterpiece. It was framed in a museum quality frame i...
Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Blooming tree
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this oil painting, I endeavored to capture the ephemeral beauty of nature's awakening. With each stroke, I sought to embody the delicate dance of blossoms on a gentle breeze, inf...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Loves Desire, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Wildflowers dancing in abstract form. In this series, Gray subtly underlines the movement of wildflowers rather than opting to paint them as still life as most often is the case. The...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Chuguyevo, birthplace of Ilya Repin
Located in Bayonne, NJ
This oil on canvas, framed painting is an absolute masterpiece. It was published in a catalogue of The Ukrainian Institue of America for the first exhibition of Yuriy Savchenko in Ne...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

'Roses' by Betsy Podlach - Red and Pink Flowers - Still-Life Oil Painting
Located in Carmel, CA
Betsy Podlach's 'Roses' is a vibrant expressionist still-life painting that encapsulates the ephemeral beauty of flowers. The artist employs a bold, impasto technique, where thick ap...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Linen, Oil

Blooming garden
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this creation of mine, I sought to capture the fleeting beauty of nature's awakening. With each stroke, I merged the worlds of realism and impressionism, allowing the vibrant hue...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Girl with lilac
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this oil painting, I sought to capture a moment of serene beauty—infusing the scene with lush florals and a sense of tranquil reverie. The blend of expressionist strokes and impr...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Seducer, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
TThe Seducer :: Painting :: Expressionism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: Yes :: Signed: Yes :: Signature Loca...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

The White Lady, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
. :: Painting :: Expressionism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: Yes :: Signed: Yes :: Signature Location: Botto...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Strangers Kiss, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This gentle painting comes to life with a swirling motion, with colours combining beautifully with generous amounts of paint and heavy brushstrokes giving us a sense of movement and ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Freedom of Peace, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Taken from Gray's most recent exhibition in Prague ''Lost Souls'', based on people who had gone through some recent kind of loss. The artist managed to capture the man's gaze in a...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Loves Chaos, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Love Chaos :: Painting :: Expressionism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: Yes :: Signed: Yes :: Signature Locati...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Self Exposure, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
A flowing piece that exemplifies our abstractness of ourselves by way of combining colour and technique to cleverly dictate the movement of the hand and tilted head. :: Painting :: E...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Strangers Desire, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Wildflowers dancing in abstract form. In this series, Gray subtly underlines the movement of wildflowers rather than opting to paint them as still life as most often is the case. The...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

At the Lake Side, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This is a large statement piece of art. It is painted in a gestural and loose way mainly in blue and green hues. Inspiration was found at the side of Lake Geneva in Montreaux. Along ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

The reading room, Painting, Oil on Paper
Located in Yardley, PA
Oil on thick paper, 60 x 40 cm, 2021. In the reading rooms I wanted to represent a very simple idea, namely how much the content of a book can acquire reality for those who are rea...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Blooming Love Story, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
My work talks about memories and dialogues with various fabrics, laces, colours and textures. The process of transforming different materials into unique pieces inspires me. They ca...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

For Sail, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
An array of colorful sailboats populate the scene. Their triangular shape serves as a visual motif, repeated and modified throughout to move away from strict re...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

For the Blushing Bride, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
An expressively painted bouquet blooms against a soft, neutral background. Its spontaneous strokes and muted colors exude a lively yet soothing energy. Artist R...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

FACE OF THE NIGHT(Octavio Paz)Lithograph on Arches Paper, Abstract Expressionist
Located in Union City, NJ
FACE OF THE NIGHT (For Octavio Paz) is a limited run lithograph exhibition poster printed in multiple colors using traditional hand lithography techniques (not a photo reproduction) ...
Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Something wonderful 4, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Acrylic on canvas. Signed front and back. Certificate of Autenticity. Textured. The sides are painted. Vernished. Shipping included. Ships rolled: The artwork is shipped rolled in a ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

What Remains, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Inspired by the vibrant style of Raoul Dufy, this portrayal of UK monastery ruins transitions from realism to bold colors and lively brushwork, merging modern...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Chagall, Jeremiah (Mourlot 117-46; Cramer 25) (after)
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Original Edition Lithograph on wove paper. Paper Size: 14 x 10.5 inches. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Excellent Condition; never framed or matted. Catalogue ref...
Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Road to Village
Located in Bayonne, NJ
A great expressive painting with heavy impasto, oil on canvas in a museum quality frame by Yuriy Savchenko. It is in excellent condition.
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Light in the forest
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil on canvas, I've poured my soul into capturing the ethereal play of light amidst the trees. I intertwine expressionism with realism to weave a dance of colors that evoke a...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Robert Rauschenberg - OVERDRIVE. Limited Skate Deck Modern Design Pop American
Located in Madrid, Madrid
Robert Rauschenberg - OVERDRIVE Date of creation: 2017 Medium: Digital print on Canadian maple wood Edition: 300 Size: 80 x 20 cm (each skate) Condition: In mint conditions and never...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Wood, Maple, Screen

Sheryl Roberts, A Distant Stillness, Original Painting, Contemporary Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Sheryl Roberts A Distant Stillness Original Painting Oil and Acrylic on Canvas Signed Sold Framed (Please note that in situ images are purely an indication of how a piece may look). ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas, Oil

Serendipity, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
An original piece from the series “Serendipityâ€
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Expressionist art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Expressionist art available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add art created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of orange, blue, purple, green and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Iryna Kastsova, George Grosz, Stephen Basso, and Marc Chagall. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Expressionist art, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available.

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