Expressionist More Art
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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Derived from artist Robert Hofferr's personal photo, this expressionist painting transforms a woodland scene into blocks of color. Warm tones emerge from the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist More Art
Photographic Paper
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This painting captures a tranquil scene where a body of water reflects the sky. The muted, distant horizon suggests an endless expanse, inviting contemplation...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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Slow-moving water winds through a vibrant landscape surrounded by colorful trees. Thick textures and layered brushstrokes create movement and depth across the s...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Boats drift on a vast northeastern body of water in New England. The sun casts a warm glow across the scene. Simple style and expressionist brushwork reduce det...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Vibrant blues and greens create a dreamy forest scene. A winding trail cuts through the tall, dark trees, leading to a clearing bathed in light. Pops of warm ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A figure lounges by the poolside, one knee raised and arms draped casually over it. The person radiates a relaxed, contemplative mood. With loose brushstrings...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist James Hartman captures the meeting point of the Berkeley Marina and San Francisco Bay in this expressive California landscape. A favorite Bay Area spot t...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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Inspired by artist Robert Hofherr's personal photo, this piece simplifies detail to make a bold and striking composition. Solid, substantial shadows replace o...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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At night, a village comes alive with a moody color palette and a delightfully whimsical arrangement of houses. The composition emphasizes intriguing color and...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Vivid brushstrokes portray crepe myrtle trees swaying in the wind. As colorful as sugar candies, their flowers and leaves burst like Portuguese confetti under...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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The ethereal beauty of nature manifests as the warm glow of the sun kisses the water’s surface. Golden hour bathes the landscape in soft, radiant colors, ca...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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Different architectural styles coexist with energetic colors in this expressionist depiction of a neighborhood. Bold brushstrokes suggest houses and trees, bl...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Trees shine like incandescent light bulbs under the warm afternoon sun. A kaleidoscope of pink, green, and yellow leaves spread across the scene. Overlapping ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Kip Decker displays a flourishing landscape with an expressionist approach. Colorful wildflowers abundantly grow by the ridge of a hill. He paints the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A Massachusetts park in winter is reimagined with vibrant color and expressive brushstrokes. The cool-toned palette predominates, while the use of color adds ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Rebecca Klementovich paints a sparkling lake surrounded by quiet mountains. She captures the sun's rays, twinkling on the water's stillness. A tranquil...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A cluster of vibrant orange trees rises beneath an expansive sky brushed with delicate white clouds. In the foreground, a field of grass with reflective patch...
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Oil
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In this lively and spirited painting, five figures revel in the music and each other's company. Tones of blue and orange embrace their forms as they hit the d...
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Acrylic
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A cradled panel is laid with vintage sewing tissues as a mordant to adhere the beeswax. I did an underpainting in ink then used a prismatic palette to lead th...
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Encaustic
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Billowing clouds swirl across the sky as a river meanders through the field below. Greens, purples, and blues dance throughout the landscape, while bold brush...
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Acrylic
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Artist Peg Belcastro depicts the stream near her home that overflows its banks during spring snowmelt. Tall, slender trees surround the area. The mix of expre...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Sunlight filters through the fence and trees, giving the scene a warm and inviting glow. Yellows, blues, and greens evoke a sense of relaxation and tranquilit...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A row of slender trees lines a road in Provence, France. As artist Janet Dyer drove by, she was captivated by the configuration of the trunks against the pale...
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Acrylic
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"Inspired by Paul Klee, I reimagined a quiet October evening with heavily textured colors and an emphasis on simplified linear elements," says artist Robert H...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A lone tree stands in the middle of a vast meadow, with a single cloud hovering over it. Its leaves, painted in shades of yellow and red, subtly hint at the c...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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With sunlight streaming in from the left, the trees engage in a playful banter about who gets the spotlight. Overlooking a small pond alongside the shrubs, th...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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With low tide, the sand stretches out towards the receding waterline, revealing a shallow pool of water reflecting the sky. A solitary cloud watches over the ...
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Oil
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Artist Robert Hofherr shares an expressionist view of rocky outcrops in the forest. Bold color, energetic paint application, and a simplified drawing style he...
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Acrylic
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This painting captures an abandoned house nearly concealed by overgrown bushes. The sunlit road extends endlessly into the hori...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Robert Hofherr presents a colorful expressionist rendering of an ordinary woodpile. The piece gets subjected to the complete Fauvist treatment. Bold co...
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Acrylic
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Artist Sharon Sieben presents an expressionist cityscape with spirited brushwork and vibrant hues. She pictures skyscrapers over the Big Apple in a dazzling a...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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The painting portrays a serene pond amid lush greenery. Featuring expressive brushstrokes, the piece conveys movement and bold contrast of complementary colors, adding visual appeal. Artist Janet Dyer's approach prioritizes capturing the energy of the scene over immediate representational details.
About the Artist
Artist Janet Dyer captures picturesque scenes from her travels in expressive and gestural landscapes. Her work reflects the changes brought on by the seasons, seizing the colors and mood and reinterpreting them into lively compositions. "I believe the process of creating art is equal in importance to the final product," says Janet. She started painting when she was nine and sold her first painting at thirteen at a country fair, where it won first prize. From ages eight to seventeen, she joined countless country fairs and relished seeing her works on display. Growing up in Ohio and Michigan influenced Janet's fascination with wide open spaces. Now living in New York State, she loves to travel whenever she gets the chance and finds inspiration everywhere she goes—particularly farms and France, and farms in France. "Luckily for me, landscapes are everywhere, so I'm spoiled for choice."
Words that describe this painting: water, pond, panoramic, trees, woods, expressionism, nature, acrylic painting, green
Pond with Yellow Trees...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A vibrant forest opens to reveal a hidden pond, its still surface mirroring the brilliant colors of the trees. Bursts of orange, green, blue, and yellow dance...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Early 2000s Expressionist More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
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Low buildings hide among nature in an abandoned day camp. The sunlight filters through the trees, painting the grass with a soft radiance. The expressive brus...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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The painting portrays a tree with colorful foliage in the middle of a vast field. The leaves are painted yellow and red, with a hint of purple. The wind gentl...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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Inspired by a quiet forest in Massachusetts, artist Robert Hofherr reimagines the scene with childlike charm and bold, stylized paintwork. Bright, lightly textu...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Paper, Coffee
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A small northern UK town bursts to life through Fauvist expression and colors. The flattened perspective stacks buildings atop one another, with roads and ele...
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Acrylic
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Tall, wispy grasses sway in the foreground, leading to the blue-green water that extends towards the horizon. Gentle waves ripple across the surface, meeting ...
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Oil
20th Century Expressionist More Art
Paper
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Colorful trees provide refreshing shade to a cluster of farm buildings. Autumn foliage surrounds the scene, wrapping it in seasonal beauty. The bright palette a...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Vases and pots support an array of textured wildflowers, standing out against a rich, dark background. A freeform stripe pattern on the tablecloth adds rhythm a...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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The composition depicts an expressionist rendition of a winter forest. It transforms grays, tans, and browns into lavender, rust, and deep blue. Simplified de...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Vibrant colors fill the sky and water, setting a lively and energetic tone for the harbor scene. Bold brushstrokes and color replace literal representation, cap...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Two figures stand close in an abstract forest, their forms blending with the trees. Directional brushstrokes capture the gentle sound of wind rustling through t...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Bold colors and expressive strokes define a small stream surrounded by woods. Strategically placed linear elements create a nearly abstract composition. Artist ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Beneath the blue sky, a thicket of trees displays their autumn-tinted foliage. Thin clouds in the distance and wispy grasses in the foreground add depth to th...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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Two figures gaze toward a light emerging from surrounding darkness, where directional strokes create a sense of flowing movement. A warm glow illuminates their ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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In this expressionist landscape, a farmyard transforms into fragmented and deconstructed shapes. Inspired by English painter Keith Vaughan, the artwork radicall...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A solitary cloud in a bright blue sky stretches over the sea. The water meets the shore with small waves rolling in. The grass adds texture in the foreground. H...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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This painting shows a happy moment between friends dancing with each other. They close their eyes and lift their hands, fully immersing themselves in the expe...
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Acrylic
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A small path winds through a quiet woodland, reimagined with bold color and subtle texture. The few bare trees create visual tension. The rest of the forest tak...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A whimsical village emerges among trees. The carefully arranged houses and foliage form an engaging scene. The bright color palette reinforces the non-represent...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A gray sky looms over the distant ocean, while wisps of grass emerge from the foreground. The rugged sand contrasts with the gentle waves. Earthy browns and g...
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Oil
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This watercolor painting captures the charm and vitality of Portland’s historic Old Port district. City life hums with a balance of energy and ease—building...
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Watercolor
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A cluster of derelict farmhouses and barns emerges from bold colors and grids. Energetic brushstrokes replace realistic detail. The Fauvist treatment breathes n...
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Acrylic
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A colorful glimpse into a wooded area reveals a pond and grassy wetland. Light reflects off the water, creating depth in the painting. The bright colors infus...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Early 2000s Expressionist More Art
Oil
