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What is the difference between Symbolism and Expressionism?
1 Answer

The difference between Symbolism and Expressionism comes down to the primary goals of the artists who worked in the movements. Symbolist artists sought to convey meaning by incorporating symbols into their works. They often drew inspiration from literary themes, myths and legends when selecting symbols. Instead of striving to convey symbolic meanings, Expressionists aimed to capture the emotional experiences of themselves and their subjects through color, line and other artistic elements. On 1stDibs, explore a wide variety of Symbolist and Expressionist art.
1stDibs ExpertAugust 15, 2024
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Shop for Symbolist Art on 1stDibs
Kraft und Mut (Courage and Strength), German antique engraving
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
'Kraft und Mut'
(Courage and Strength)
German wood-engraving, 1903.
320mm by 230mm (image)
280mm by 410mm (sheet)
Category
Early 20th Century Symbolist Figurative Prints
Materials
Engraving
Fine 19th Century French Symbolist Oil Painting Portrait of Mythological Queen
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Queen
by Diogène Ulysse Napoléon Maillart (French, 1840 – 1926) *see notes below
oil painting on canvas, framed
canvas: 42 x 30 inches
framed: 45 x 33 inches
condition: overall v...
Category
Late 19th Century Symbolist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
$26,251 Sale Price
20% Off
Le Verger (The Orchard) from Daphnis and Chloë
By Marc Chagall
Located in OPOLE, PL
Marc Chagall (1887-1985) - Le Verger (The Orchard) from Daphnis and Chloë.
Lithograph from 1961.
The edition of 34/60 on Arches paper with wide margins.
Dimensions of work: 53.7 x...
Category
1960s Symbolist More Prints
Materials
Lithograph
Garden guardian
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting will come to you stretched on a wooden stretcher and completely ready to be placed in the interior.
ABOUT THE ARTWORK
"The 'Garden Guardian' serves as the keeper of our...
Category
2010s Symbolist Interior Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,239 Sale Price
20% Off
Evening in the Mountains by Joseph André Mussler - Oil on Wood - 45x45 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Joseph André Mussler (1904-1980) was a Swiss painter known for his works depicting natural landscapes, often focusing on scenes from the Alps, such as mountain valleys and alpine hut...
Category
Mid-20th Century Symbolist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood
Suzanne Benton, Over the Shoulder, 2017, Monoprint
Located in Darien, CT
“I still look at and learn from the art of the past, and enjoy making interpretations of works which I admire.” Henry Moore
Infanta, Floating Balance, Point in Time, and Visionary are monoprints with Chine collé from Suzanne Benton's Paintings in Proust series. This grouping also includes the dry-point etching with Chine collé. Infanta (edition of 10). The monoprints (unique prints) employ the collage technique, chine collé (glued paper). Collé papers are pre-inked and hand-painted. Dimensional printing plates emboss texture onto the prints. The plates are inked individually for each solo print. The images and collé papers are then laid onto the plate and adhere to the printmaking paper as the plate and paper run through the etching press.
Other monoprint series have been devoted to Indian and Turkish miniature painting...
Category
2010s Symbolist Portrait Prints
Materials
Monoprint


