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
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 ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A town exudes a whimsical charm with its expressionist portrayal. The simple and non-traditional images of the houses, lamp posts, and residents burst with mu...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
1920s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Photogravure
Artist Comments
A layer of snow wraps a serene forest. Painted with a limited color palette of Payne's Grey and Phthalo Green, accented with Titanium White, the scene exudes ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
1830s Expressionist More Art
Paper
Artist Comments
Orchard trees stand in the distance, their foliage adorned in autumn's seasonal colors. Tall grass fills the foreground, blending seamlessly with the field. T...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
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
Artist Comments
A vibrant autumn scene unfolds as towering trees with golden leaves stretch toward the azure sky. The quiet neighborhood below hosts quaint houses nestling am...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
The artwork portrays an abstract depiction of the moon emerging in the sky. It invites exploration of artistic interpretations of a cosmic landscape. Captivat...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
The artwork depicts an expressionist city landscape at night, emphasizing emotions and subjective experience over realism. A woman's figure lies among the sta...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
The artwork offers a glimpse of a peaceful summer day at the beach. The tranquil sea stretches into the distance, while the sandy, pink shore gradually transi...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A neighborhood with New England-style homes embraces a Fauvist treatment, resulting in a stylized landscape with textured underpainting and non-realistic colo...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A two-story mansion undergoes a fauvist transformation with its bright palette, stylized rendering, and expressive paint handling. The alteration of multi-tie...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
This painting features a woman as the central subject, depicted with bold textures and spontaneous brushstrokes. Her white dress against the deep blue backgro...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
September flourishes at its peak, with trees painted in vibrant autumn hues. A field of grass wraps around the foreground, with a small patch illuminated by s...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
1930s Expressionist More Art
Paper
Artist Comments
In awe of the images from the James Webb Telescope, artist Diana Elena Chelaru creates a series inspired by the depths of the universe. The mystery and vibran...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
1930s Expressionist More Art
Woodcut
Artist Comments
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A serene and mysterious atmosphere envelops a snow-covered landscape. Traces of grass dot the foreground, while a shroud of fog softly blurs the distant tree ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting captures the beauty of the French countryside. I was inspired by the peaceful and vivid colors found in this quaint French village. I depicted t...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
"Color is the most dynamic element of a flower's charm," says artist Sharon Sieben. The vivid red petals reflect the poppy's happy and intense beauty. The cor...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Robert Hofherr shows an expressionist floral still life in a cool palette of blue and violet. He renders the flowers and leaves quickly and confidently...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Sharon Sieben creates a stern portrait of a man who, despite his attempt to appear disinterested, finds himself unable to resist the allure of curiosit...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Autumn Rose paints delicate pastel flowers and foliage in striking contrast to a dark background. The artwork emulates luscious plants kissed by soft m...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist George Peebles displays an expressionist landscape bringing autumnal hues together in one area. The green leaves turn a fiery red as the season changes...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Diana Elena Chelaru exhibits an expressionist portrait of a lady with her dog. She caresses the pup as it sleeps by her side. Geometric shapes adorn he...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
1920s Expressionist More Art
Lithograph
Artist Comments
Artist Naoko Tadotsu demonstrates a colorful tree on a sunny summer afternoon. Reflections of bright sunlight from a nearby river pierce through the leaves of the lush foliage. A compelling display of blue and green marks intensifies in the warm background. "The lights and leaves together create an illusion of a large stained glass," says Naoko.
About the Artist
Brilliant prismatic trees radiate in artist Naoko Tadotsu’s expressionist compositions. “I am always in awe of nature, color, and light,†says Naoko. These three facets establish her vibrant works in fluid strokes of vivid hues. Roots of her influence trace back to growing up in Osaka, where these elements were abundant. Naoko migrated to New York where she was immersed and fell in love with the world of art. What was once unexpressed inspiration inevitably translated onto the canvas. Her work often crosses into abstraction, capturing her feelings towards nature and painting...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
1920s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Lithograph
1930s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Photogravure
1930s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Photogravure
1910s Expressionist More Art
Woodcut
1940s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Offset
1910s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Lithograph
1920s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Photogravure
Artist Comments
On a lazy midsummer afternoon, a young bear wanders into a meadow nestled high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Abstract fields of color melt into the essence ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
1910s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Lithograph
1930s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Lithograph, Offset
1920s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Lithograph, Offset
1950s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Offset
1920s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Lithograph
1920s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Photogravure
1920s Expressionist More Art
Paper
Artist Comments
A jewel-toned hummingbird hovers mid-flight, its wings blurred by motion as it flies through the colorful sky. The scene takes inspiration from the birds that...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A woman gazes downward, her expression subtly weighted with introspection. Textured brushstrokes and earthy tones accentuate the emotional depth of her inner ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
1930s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Linocut
1910s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Mixed Media
1920s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Engraving
1920s Expressionist More Art
Paper, Lithograph
Artist Comments
A woman in a flowing white dress stands with a relaxed composure. Her dark hair frames her tranquil expression. Soft blues and gentle pinks surround her, blen...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A woman sits with her hands wrapped around bent knees, exuding a sense of introspection and vulnerability. She contemplates the wonders of the universe, from ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Encaustic
1930s Expressionist More Art
Woodcut
Artist Comments
A vast, colorful sky stretches over an abstracted city. Artist Diana Elena Chelaru has intentionally minimized the buildings, letting the sky feel limitless. ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
As the sun rises, golden yellows and oranges radiate against the blue sky. Colorful dots spread across the scene, conveying the movement and warmth of sunligh...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Vibrant, swirling sun rays fill the sky, creating a celestial panorama above a city. The windows of the stylized buildings below reflect the galaxy of geometr...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist More Art
Acrylic
Early 2000s Expressionist More Art
Tapestry, Wool
2010s Expressionist More Art
Photographic Paper
