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Expressionist Figurative Paintings

EXPRESSIONIST STYLE

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.

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Style: Expressionist
Color:  Purple
Richard Wilson Figurative Female Iconic Detroit Symbols
Located in Detroit, MI
“Untitled Female" is a colorful piece by Richard Wilson that has meaning for native Detroiters through use of the blues and oranges - their "Tiger" baseball team's colors and the "D"...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Endless Possibility
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The will to succeed is important, but it is more important to prepare. It's hard to get to the top of success, but harder to remain there. It may take time, but the result is always ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

'Lady in a Sun Hat', Carmel Art Association, Laguna Beach, CSFA, SWA, PAFA, CPLH
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'Dooley' for Helen Bertha Dooley, (American, 1907-1994); additionally signed, verso, and titled 'Hat Lady'. Exhibited: Carmel Art Association, California, 1983. Provenance: Dr. Richard Ferguson, San Francisco. Helen Dooley...
Category

1980s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"With thoughts about…" Oil Painting 39" x 31" inch by Sergey Dolmatov
Located in Culver City, CA
"With thoughts about…" Oil Painting 39" x 31" inch by c Year: 2009 Size framed: 44" x 36" inch
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

"Untitled Female" Clothed Female Figure, Bright Colors, Detroit Symbols
Located in Detroit, MI
“Untitled Female" is a colorful piece by Richard Wilson that has meaning for native Detroiters through use of the blues and oranges - their "Tiger" baseball team's colors and the "D"...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Juliette
Located in Austin, TX
By Pep Suari 39.5" x 32 Acrylic on Canvas
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Untitled Female"
Located in Detroit, MI
“Untitled Female" is a colorful piece by Richard Wilson that has meaning for native Detroiters through use of the blues and oranges - their "Tiger" baseball team's colors and the "D"...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Contemporary Textured Figurative Painting - Water Series No.3
Located in Beijing, CN
textured Figurative painting- Water Series No.3 by He Wenjue Dimension : 30 x 20cm Material :oil on canvas Date: 2009 About Water Series He Wenjue grew...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Contemporary Textured Figurative Painting - Water Series No.5
Located in Beijing, CN
textured Figurative painting- Water Series No.5 by He Wenjue Dimension : 30 x 20cm Material :oil on canvas Date: 2009 About Water Series He Wenjue grew...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Textured Figurative Painting - Water Series No.1
Located in Beijing, CN
textured Figurative painting- Water Series No.1 by He Wenjue Dimension : 30 x 20cm Material :oil on canvas Date: 2009 About Water Series He Wenjue grew...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Roses and Blues. Oil on panel Still Life with red roses on blue background
Located in Segovia, ES
Roses and Blues (Rosas y azules), oil on panel, Expressionist Still Life. Dimension art: 27 x 22 cm. Dimension framed 51 x 46 x 4.5 cm. Small Expressionist still life...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Culture 4
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
People believe money is power in my society - because the leaders steal money to oppress and suffer the poor. But I realize the opposite of this is the purpose of living. We are al...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

Moi: Life, Sex and Mortality.
Located in Cotignac, FR
Late 20th century expressionist work on paper by French artist Armand Avril. Signed and dated bottom right. The painting is full of vibrancy and colour with the depictions and appea...
Category

1990s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Paper, Acrylic

Le Tombeau de Cyrus, 2018
Located in Atlanta, GA
Born August 4, 1945 in Chambéry. Apprenticeship in 1984 at the Etampes school founded and run by the painter Philipe Lejeune. -Price "Finez Planard" awarded by the Taylor Foundation...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Passers By", oil painting, figurative, night, people, building, hat, cloak
Located in Toronto, Ontario
"Passers By" is an oil painting with chalk and graphite on wood panel, and measures 12" high by 16" wide. It is finished with a clear resin across the surface, lending the artwork a ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Resin, Chalk, Oil, Wood Panel, Graphite

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Previously Available Items
Pine trees 05
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Title of Work: Pine trees 05 Description: Oil on canvas Medium: Oil color Dimensions: 140x70 cm Original/Reproduction: Original  Date of creation: 2021 Country where created: Italia ...
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Pine trees 05
H 55.12 in W 27.56 in D 0.2 in
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acrylic painting on canvas
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Acrylic

CRAZY FACE
CRAZY FACE
H 44.1 in W 34.26 in
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Expressionist figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Expressionist figurative paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add figurative paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Evelyne Ballestra, Julien Wolf, Stephen Basso, and Bernard Harmon. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Expressionist figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available.

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