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.
Find a collection of authentic Expressionist paintings, sculptures, prints and more art on 1stDibs.
Artist Comments
A woodland home takes on a playful vibrancy through bold colors and simplified shapes. Layers of violet, crimson, and deep green underpainting heighten contrast...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
20th Century Expressionist More Art
Paper
1980s Expressionist More Art
Linen, Mixed Media
Artist Comments
A cluster of agricultural buildings transforms into an exploration of color and texture. Stripped of perspective and realistic detail, the composition relies on...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Unimposing buildings and houses transform into a collection of intersecting, colorful shapes. Repetition and abstraction elevate the scene beyond its source ima...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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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...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Reimagining a simple still life with oranges, this composition replaces traditional perspective with a more abstract structure. Grids and flat surfaces allow si...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Tall beach grass stretches across the foreground, with a small pool of water reflecting the sky. In the distance, layers of sand and sea stack into soft, hori...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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An expansive blue sky meets the ocean in a quiet, seamless horizon, with a single cloud drifting gently above. Below, the shoreline is alive with wispy grasse...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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Bold and full of movement, this dynamic scene invites the viewer to wander along a riverbank lined with trees. Hints of pink and blue ripple through the scene...
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
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Bold brushstrokes capture the lively yet restful energy of a marsh. The colors shift and blend, reflecting the ever-changing landscape. The scene portrays the...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist More Art
Fabric, Wool
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A cluster of trees stands in the middle of a vast field, their canopies merging to create a unified presence. Against the coolness of the blue sky, the orange...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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Inspired by Paul Klee, this painting distills buildings and trees into minimalistic shapes. Rough strokes in a soft yellow frame the composition, while a teal...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist James Hartman began this painting by creating texture with homemade tools. He envisioned standing at the edge of the woods, looking through to an indistinct light. The oil colors were allowed to drip and settle into the textured surface, enhancing depth and movement, while his tools helped define the landscape in a way that captures shifting light.
About the Artist
When James Hartman was in art school, he became fascinated with the Society of Six, a group of artists who painted en plein air (outdoors) and exhibited together in the San Francisco Bay Area during the early 20th Century. James's paintings of the Northern California landscape pay tribute to some of the great Bay Area artists of the past. His expressive scenes feel alive through his vibrant use of color and his painterly brushwork. James’s paintings have an immediate visual impact from a distance, yet up close, dissolve into a series of confident marks and strokes. There is a simultaneous complexity and steadiness in his flattened, color-blocked planes. Knowledge and observation are essential elements of James’s working practice. To this end, he spends a large proportion of his time painting on location. His body of work captures the fresh and sunlit essence of the coastal California hills.
Words that describe this painting: trees, texture, bright, woods, sunlight, panoramic, forest...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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Artist Robert Hofherr captures a waterfront view of Castine, Maine, in a Fauvist style. He highlights essential details, emphasizing expressive brushwork and ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Robert Hofherr rendered a colorful view of autumn wood in a Fauvist lens. With simplified details, the interplay of line, color, and texture creates vi...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Houses take on geometric forms, with a single illuminated window adding a touch of charm to the title. The scene evokes an imaginative nighttime world, blendi...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
1910s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Woodcut
2010s Expressionist More Art
Oil
Early 2000s Expressionist More Art
Oil
1970s Expressionist More Art
Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset
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Shadows of tall, slender trees rise from the darkness. A subtle ray of moonlight illuminates the landscape, casting a delicate glow that contrasts against the...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
1910s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Etching
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A tranquil landscape welcomes the beginning of autumn. A cloudy sky stretches over the vast field and the ocean, adorned with scattered trees and a puddle. Th...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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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...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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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
1940s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Engraving
1920s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Photogravure
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Artist Rober Hofherr transforms an ordinary townscape in strong sunlight into a Fauvist composition. Warm rose and brick red mid-tones heighten the contrast w...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Two figures bask in the light of the cosmos, their curvaceous forms mirroring the flow of celestial bodies. The varying blue tones represent the sky before nigh...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Geometric forms depict a stylized group of buildings. Slivered and segmented images create intrigue and tension. The limited color palette keeps the focus on co...
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
Artist Comments
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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Linear elements and colored shapes portray an autumn woodland. The simplified foliage, trees, path, and light and shadow evoke the essence of the season witho...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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This painting portrays a woman with an ambiguous expression, adding a mysterious mood to the piece. The blue streaks in her hair and the shadow on her face cr...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist Srinivas Kathoju captures the beauty of vast open fields, mountains, and distant horizons in this painting. Sweeping clouds fill the sky, reflecting th...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
Early 1900s Expressionist More Art
Lithograph
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A woman lies under a vibrant night sky, the stars and planets illuminating her form. Bold colors and energetic directional brushwork add a hypnotizing energy to the composition. This piece is artist Diana Elena Chelaru's personal interpretation of the vast space.
About the Artist
Artist Diana Elena Chelaru creates vibrant expressionist works that explore human emotion and the cosmos. “Art is a means of communication, a way to express my thoughts, hopes, and joys,†says Diana. She uses form, lines, and color to bring her imaginative compositions to life, with inspiration drawn from Byzantine mosaics and Gustav Klimt’s decorative patterns. Diana received her BFA in Painting from George Enescu Art University and an MA in Art History from Queens College. Diana’s creative process is fluid and intuitive, guided by her emotions in the moment, with music as a constant companion. Her studio, located in the basement of her home, is kept clean and organized. When she’s not creating, Diana enjoys spending quality time with her family.
Words that describe this painting: Universe, stars, sky, night, meditation, celestial, space, flow, movement, planets, reclining, expressionism, nature, people, acrylic painting, blue
Star Gazing...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A soft mist drapes over the narrow streets of a traditional Vietnamese town, muting the colors of weathered buildings with faded shutters and moss-covered tiles...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Tall pine trees rise over the dunes of Asilomar Beach on the Monterey Peninsula. Patches of pink, orange, and white ice plants dominate the foreground. The vi...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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The painting captures a lively scene where a group of people dances joyfully, lost in the music with closed eyes. Their vibrant clothing and fluid movements i...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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A colorful tree stands alone in an open field under a clear blue sky. The orange, yellow, and red leaves create a focal point against the soft, expansive back...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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A lake house stands serenely as the sun dips below the horizon, its silhouette softly outlined against the glowing sky. Lily pads float gently on the water, t...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Large freighters rest in port, rendered with bold colors and energetic brushstrokes. Instead of strict realism, the composition embraces vibrant contrasts—red...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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The Empire State Building rises with bold and vibrant strokes. The minimalist lines and blurry contrasts capture the dynamic spirit of New York City. It reflect...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Bold colors bring the towering Empire State Building to life. Minimal lines and dynamic hues convey constant motion, reflecting the unstoppable spirit of New Yo...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Early 2000s Expressionist More Art
Ceramic
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"Swimming on a lake under a full moon is a truly magical experience," shares artist Rebecca Klementovich. She paints the enchanting venture through a moonlit ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
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Artist George Peebles presents an expressionist landscape shifting as autumn approaches. The green leaves turn a fiery red as the season changes. George paint...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
1930s Expressionist More Art
Paper
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Red, orange, and yellow leaves burst from a dense grove of trees. Dramatic purple and blue clouds hover in the sky above while blades of grass sway gently in ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
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Whispy grasses sway in the foreground, leading the viewer's eye to a calm ocean horizon. Soft pastel hues with earthy tones paint...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Verdant blades of grass blend into warm tones of yellow and orange, gradually leading to a sandy shore. On the horizon, a quiet beach meets the clear blue sky...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Leafless trees stretch upward against a vibrant, lime-green sky. A purple path leads the eye into the distance. The limited palette makes the scene cohesive a...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A vibrant night sky stretches over the city. Ethereal blues mirror the celestial depths, while fiery oranges echo the birth of the stars. Geometric shapes and...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
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