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.
Matron 1, Mixed Media on Paper
Located in Yardley, PA
Matron 1 :: Mixed Media :: Expressionism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed: Yes :: Signature Locati...
Mixed Media
Sailing Through Colors
Located in West Hollywood, CA
ABOUT THE PAINTING 15" X 12" Monoprint In this dreamy monoprint painting, a vibrant red canoe rests snugly between two majestic trees. The artist skillfully captures the essence of s...
Oil
Morning Glow in Love
Located in West Hollywood, CA
ABOUT THE PAINTING 40" X 28" Monoprint In this enchanting morning scene, the essence of love and connection amidst the beauty of nature is captured skillfully. The backdrop reveals a...
Oil
Whisper of Petals
Located in West Hollywood, CA
30" X 38" Wood Framed In this painting a rose bouquet takes center stage, delicately exploding out of the canvas in a soft and ethereal manner. The artist has skillfully captured th...
Canvas, Oil
Bouquet of Blush
Located in West Hollywood, CA
39" X 32" Wood Framed A beautiful arrangement of roses takes center stage in this painting. The flowers, meticulously placed in a vase, seem to have a mind of their own, as they gra...
Canvas, Oil
Harmony in Bloom
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This stunning bouquet of roses exudes a vibrant energy through the artist's expressive energy. It is a perfect balance between freedom and control, allowing the subject matter to com...
Mixed Media
Ethereal Embrace - Framed Figurative painting
Located in West Hollywood, CA
In "Ethereal Embrace," the artist draws inspiration from the concept of soulmates and the enchanting beauty of nature. The painting depicts two bodies, representing a man and a woman...
Mixed Media
$4,800
Le Rêve
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This painting is a masterful blend of realistic and surrealistic elements. The painterly brushwork and textural elements create a sense of abundance and opulence, while the interplay...
Wood, Mixed Media, Wood Panel
$7,500
Portrait of African Man by African American Artist Expressionist Brush Strokes
Located in Miami, FL
This Portrait of an African Man by an African American artist exhibits penetrating psychological insight and is executed in vibrant colors with quick gestural post-expressionist brus...
Paper, Watercolor, Pen
$26,000
Cat Friends Portrait, Collage on Paper - Guggenheim Museum Founder
By Hilla Rebay von Ehrenwiesen
Located in Miami, FL
A portrait of two cats is deftly assembled by trailblazing modernist Hilla Rebay. The work is signed and titled lower left. 'Muschi et Antonio v. Rebay - Rome'. Titled to verso ‘Musc...
Paper, Pencil
My Neighbor with her Dog: Drawing of a human figure with a dog
Located in New York, NY
A drawing by Serge Hollerbach. Hollerbach's work was influenced by the Abstract Expressionist movement and he was associated with the "New York Schoo...
Ink, Pen
Sur Un Coin De Lune
Located in Atlanta, GA
Jean-Louis Mendrisse is a self-taught painter born in 1955 in Clermont-Ferrand. Art, family affairs Jean-Louis Mendrisse studied the deal with his famous sculptor father, Jean Mos...
Acrylic
Girl In A Blue Chair
By Wyona Diskin
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Wyona Diskin, American (1915 - 1991) Girl In A Blue Chair Acrylic on canvas partially painted over wire mesh, Unsigned. Framed. Measurements: H 70.5 x W 49.5 x D 1.25 inches Wyona ...
Wire
Untitled
Located in Barcelona, CT
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity The artwork is also signed by the author
Paper, Mixed Media
Price Upon Request
Seated Ballerina
By Jean Jansem
Located in New York, NY
Follow up photo we be replace the enclosed as all the detail is washed out from the flash. Additional photos if requested . A photo certificate accompanies this painting. It is frame...
Paste, Watercolor
Price Upon Request
A Stroll Through the Village, Two Figures
Located in Missouri, MO
A Stroll Through the Village, Two Figures By. Theo Tobiasse (Israeli, French, 1927-2012) Signed Lower Left Unframed: 40" x 27.5" Framed: 55.5" x 42.25" Théo Tobiasse came from a Lithuanian-Jewish immigrant family who moved to Paris in 1931 for economic reasons. Here Tobiasse completed an apprenticeship at the École des Arts Décoratifs, which was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. The family lived hidden in the French metropolis for over two years without ever leaving the small apartment or even lighting it up. The time was spent reading, drawing and playing chess, and Tobiasse built up a huge pool of drawings from which he could later draw. After the end of the war, he worked as a graphic designer for the Hermès company...
Mixed Media
Price Upon Request
Now & Then
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Gregory Horndeski was born May 14, 1948 in Cleveland, OH. He holds a B.S. in Physics, as well as a Master’s and Ph.D in Applied Math. In 1979 Gregory Horndeski received tenure as an ...
Acrylic