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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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Period: 21st Century and Contemporary
Style: Expressionist
Spirale Nout
Located in Miami, FL
Her work with signs, symbols and esoteric spirituality reflects her passion for the ancient past and represents a symbolic return to the ground from which we emerged. Her work creates a commentary about “beginnings” and the transmission of signs and emotions through visual elements evoking a spiritual essence to our scientific notion of etymology. After studying 0under Rolf Dürig...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Hathor
Located in Miami, FL
Her work with signs, symbols and esoteric spirituality reflects her passion for the ancient past and represents a symbolic return to the ground from which we emerged. Her work creates a commentary about “beginnings” and the transmission of signs and emotions through visual elements evoking a spiritual essence to our scientific notion of etymology. After studying under Rolf Dürig...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

COLD SNAP seated female figure on subway cool blue winter tones
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oil painting on plywood signed on reverse. There is a rough texture to the surface of the painting a technique used by the artist on many of his wood paintings.
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Plywood, Oil

Holder of Light, Wild Woman Series, bright color blue yellow
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This painting is in a series called the Wild Woman which is also printed in a pocket sized book. Watercolor, mixed media, using resists. Janet Morgan’s...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Watercolor, Archival Paper

Energy Worker, bright colorful swirling patterns mystical yoga Wild Woman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This painting is in a series called the Wild Woman which is also printed in a pocket sized book. Watercolor, mixed media, using resists. Janet Morgan’s...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Watercolor, Archival Paper

Passage
Located in Miami, FL
Her work with signs, symbols and esoteric spirituality reflects her passion for the ancient past and represents a symbolic return to the ground from which we emerged. Her work creates a commentary about “beginnings” and the transmission of signs and emotions through visual elements evoking a spiritual essence to our scientific notion of etymology. After studying under Rolf Dürig...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Warm Reflections Florida theme water pool exterior warm colors tranquil theme
Located in Brooklyn, NY
oil on linen canvas heavy duty stretchers framing recommended but not necessary. signed on reverse
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Slings and Arrows, cupids hearts night forest love valentine battle theme
Located in Brooklyn, NY
oil on stretched canvas on heavy duty wooden stretchers framing not required. part of recent valentine works with upcoming day in mind
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Color Pencil, Canvas

Lights of the Temple, colorful on black, dynamic, goddess, abstract, energy
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Watercolor, mixed media
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Watercolor, Archival Paper

Boy in black shirt, Painting, Acrylic on Paper
Located in Yardley, PA
My work is about dealing with the real world and above all using the images that surround us in everyday life. I often search for the unexpected. An ironic turn to images or things y...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Red Portrait, Painting, Acrylic on Paper
Located in Yardley, PA
My work is about dealing with the real world and above all using the images that surround us in everyday life. I often search for the unexpected. An ironic turn to images or things y...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Green general, Painting, Acrylic on Paper
Located in Yardley, PA
My work is about dealing with the real world and above all using the images that surround us in everyday life. I often search for the unexpected. An ironic turn to images or things y...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Sunflowers
Located in Miami, FL
Her work with signs, symbols and esoteric spirituality reflects her passion for the ancient past and represents a symbolic return to the ground from which we emerged. Her work create...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Italian Tuscany Figurative Expressionism Female Nude ink on paper 20st
Located in Florence, IT
The painting is signed and dated: L. NOCENTINI 91. The style of Ladislao Nocentini can be defined as a sort of Figurative Expressionism: his i...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

Ballets Russes
Located in Miami, FL
Her work with signs, symbols and esoteric spirituality reflects her passion for the ancient past and represents a symbolic return to the ground from which we emerged. Her work create...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Les Ombres
Located in Atlanta, GA
Born in 1951, François Legrand was introduced to painting as a teenager by Philippe Lejeune in Etampes. In 1973, he moved to Loiret. From 1974 to 197...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

La Chemin de la Croix
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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Italian Tuscany Figurative Expressionism Female Nude ink on paper 20st
Located in Florence, IT
The painting is signed and dated: L. NOCENTINI 91. The style of Ladislao Nocentini can be defined as a sort of Figurative Expressionism: his i...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

Cats and a Woman
Located in Austin, TX
By Pep Suari 39" x 39" Acrylic on Canvas
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Fisherman
Located in Austin, TX
By Pep Suari 39" x 39" Acrylic on Canvas
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

French Contemporary Art by Sandra Detourbet - Promise Indécise
Located in Paris, IDF
Ink on canvas & handmade paper Sandra Detourbet is a French artist born in 1967 who works & lives in Ivry-sur-Seine, near Paris. She is graduated in 1997 from ENSAD in Paris, Art-Sp...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Handmade Paper, Ink

Italian Tuscany Figurative Expressionism Female Nude watercolour ink paper 20st
Located in Florence, IT
The painting is signed and dated: L. NOCENTINI 92. The style of Ladislao Nocentini can be defined as a sort of Figurative Expressionism: his i...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor

Italian Tuscany Figurative Expressionism Male Nude ink on paper 20st
Located in Florence, IT
The painting is signed and dated: L. NOCENTINI 91. The style of Ladislao Nocentini can be defined as a sort of Figurative Expressionism: his i...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

Expressionist Figurative water color painting- Series The Horse Whisper No.2-25
Located in Beijing, CN
Expressionist Figurative water color painting by Zhang Chunyang Series The Horse Whisper No.2-25 Dimension: 29 x 36 cm Material: Gouache, Watercolor on Paper Date: 2013 Artist B...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Gouache, Handmade Paper

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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

La Veille
Located in Atlanta, GA
Born in 1951, François Legrand was introduced to painting as a teenager by Philippe Lejeune in Etampes. In 1973, he moved to Loiret. From 1974 to 197...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Expressionist Figurative water color painting- Series The Horse Whisper No.2-24
Located in Beijing, CN
Expressionist Figurative water color painting by Zhang Chunyang Series The Horse Whisper No.2-24 Dimension: 29 x 36 cm Material: Gouache, Watercolor on Paper Date: 2013 Artist Bi...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Gouache, Handmade Paper

Le Temps Pas
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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

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

Canvas, Oil

Samedi Soir Chez Chloé
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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

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

Match point - Julien Wolf, 21st Century, Contemporary figurative painting
Located in Paris, FR
Oil on canvas Signed Unique work
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Ensemble
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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Emotional
Located in Rye, NY
‘Emotional’ is a large expressionist figurative oil on canvas painting of vertical format created by Vietnamese artist La Ba Quan in 2011. Featuring a palette made of grey, brown, bl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Emotional
Emotional
$2,880 Sale Price
20% Off
Contemporary Textured Figurative Painting - Water Series No.4
Located in Beijing, CN
textured Figurative painting- Water Series No.4 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

Canvas, Oil

Contemporary Textured Figurative Painting - Water Series No.2
Located in Beijing, CN
textured Figurative painting- Water Series No.2 by He Wenjue Dimension : 30 x 20cm Material :oil on canvas Date: 2009 About Water Series He Wenjue grew up in Hunan province, China, where the tributaries of the Xiangjiang River surround almost every town. Water nurtures life, and life creates prosperity and hope. In the late 1990s, He Wenjue began to paint inspired by the theme of water, initially prompted by its natural beauty and liquidity. Unlike David Hockney’s renowned pool portrait series, He Wenjue’s paintings display endless expanse of water. Although the surface of water reflects the intense blue colour of the sky, it does not conceal the energy of the water flow: the combination of blue and black makes the water surface look like a strong magnetic black hole. This image generates in the viewers a feeling of anxiety and concern for the swimmers. Even though the combative swimmers, depicted by He Wenjue with reference to Lucian Freud’s expressive style, are carried away by the waves and look pale and weak, however, their naked bodies, still illuminated by an obsidian light, rise and fall between the waves. For He Wenjue, water is a symbol of any kind of living space: the dynamism of the water surface and the unstable nature of the water represent the instability of society in a universal sense, while the swimmers who strive forward represent the individuals who face many difficulties when they are looking for their own place and making every effort to pursue freedom. About the artist: He Wenjue was born in 1970 in Hunan Province, China. He received his MA in painting from Jilin Academy of Fine Arts. Member of Chinese Art Association, Member of Chinese Painting Association.The vice-President of Hunan Oil-Painting Association. Research Fellow of Beijing Academy of China Xieyi Oil Painting.He is currently the vice president of Hunan Oil Painting Society, a member of China Artists Association and a member of Chinese Oil Painting Society. His works have been displayed on exhibitions at“Scenery in Map”ShangHai Solo Exhibition、Solo Exhibition, Frank Schlag Gallery, Essen, Germany、Sense of the Sparkle: He Wenjue Singapore Solo Exhibition, Singapore、Water: Senses of Sparkle, Tang Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand、The 9th & The 10th National Annual Fine Arts Exhibition、The first Chinese Freehand Brushwork Oil Painting、4th Jakarta Contemporary Ceramics Biennale, 6th BICMA ,、Painting the Present, Certosa di San Giacomo, Via Certosa 1 - Capri, Capri, Italy、The 2nd Chinese Oil Painting Biennale, The National Art Museum of China、The Xinjiang International Art Biennial 2014、Ethics as the DNA Art: The 9th Florence Biennale、SEA OF PEACE: Japan-Korea Contemporary Art Exhibition, Incheon Art Platform, Incheon, Korea、Faces and Figures, Germany、East side, Michael Schultz Gallery, Berlin, Germany、Vanhaerents Museum Collection, Brussel Belgium、China...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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

Canvas, Oil

Convoitise
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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

For the Megaliths to the Megalopolis - Figurative Political Painting
Located in New York, NY
Bernard Aptekar's For the Megaliths to the Megalopolis is a figurative painting measuring 49.5" x 65". Aptekar's paintings are often a political and social commentary of the contradi...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Speeding City Stretches Into Flesh - Figurative Painting with Pastel Colors
Located in New York, NY
Aptekar's paintings are often a political and social commentary of the contradictions inherent to the human mankind. The surrealistic and expressionistic language used to covey the m...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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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