Expressionist Mixed Media
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.
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1960s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1960s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1960s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1950s Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1960s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
1960s Expressionist Mixed Media
Lithograph
2010s Expressionist Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Mixed Media
Canvas, Acrylic, Digital, Mixed Media
1980s Expressionist Mixed Media
Wood, Thread, Plastic, Paper, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
1950s Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Expressionist Mixed Media
Paper, Oil Pastel, Ink, Oil
Artist Comments
A red-haired woman tilts her face toward the light, revealing a striking side profile. Bold washes of abstract color echo her presence, while an intricate dra...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Expressionist Mixed Media
Paper, Oil, Acrylic
1940s Expressionist Mixed Media
Woodcut
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Canvas, Coffee, Mixed Media
Artist Comments
A lonesome road leads to snow-dusted mesas rising dramatically from the desert floor. The cool blues contrast with the deep red washes of color, bringing the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Early 2000s Expressionist Mixed Media
Tapestry, Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Bright colors and abstract forms frame a tree. The contrasting background of purples, pinks, and greens highlights the twisting branches and lush foliage. The circular shapes represent the cycle of life and death. Artist Dafni Milan...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
A gnarled trunk stands prominently against an abstract winter landscape. The rich purples, pinks, and yellows create an energetic and surreal atmosphere. The artwork evokes the resilience of trees; they remain strong and continue growing even in harsher seasons. Artist Dafni Milan...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
A leafless tree stretches its branches toward a vibrant, swirling sky. Daisies bloom on the ground while lotus flowers scatter across the scene. A luminous mo...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
A pink rose blooms on a background filled with black ink marks and pastel colors. It shows how beauty can thrive, even in the darkest of times. Artist Dafni Milan...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
1970s Expressionist Mixed Media
Paper, Mixed Media, Permanent Marker
2010s Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Board
Artist Comments
A man with shadowed and deep-set eyes carries a quiet intensity in his gaze. His neutral expression invites the viewer to ponder the story behind his solemn d...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Long ago in Pennsylvania, farmers would pile up rocks when clearing fields for planting crops, arranging them in long, fence-like structures. Over time, these...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Sunlight shimmers off the stream as it winds through a colorful landscape. Tall, slender trunks frame the scene, while lush green grasses line the water's edg...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Early 2000s Expressionist Mixed Media
Canvas, Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Canvas, Plastic
Early 2000s Expressionist Mixed Media
Canvas, Plastic
Artist Comments
Orange poppies bloom under a mystical sky while four buds await to display their petals. Their bright colors radiate a passionate energy. Artist Yelena Sidoro...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil
1960s Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil
2010s Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Board
Artist Comments
Colorful ridges and mountains bring layers of contrast to the scene, while light and shadows accentuate the ruggedness of the terrain. Expressive strokes capt...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Late 20th Century Expressionist Mixed Media
Paper, Mixed Media
Artist Comments
A morning scene unfolds at the Canyonlands National Park in Utah. The rising sun lights up the landscape, creating purple shadows on the cliffs with beautiful...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Early 2000s Expressionist Mixed Media
Tapestry, Wool
2010s Expressionist Mixed Media
Mixed Media