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
Tight Corner 2
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The artwork titled "Tight Corner" features a man and woman looking at each other in a romantic way, with a smile on their faces. This piece of art is a beautiful representation of lo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Dreamscape, Oil Painting
By Gary Leonard
Located in San Francisco, CA
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 backgroun...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Female Nude Sitting Figure - Expressive Oil Painting
Located in Salzburg, AT
Agata Czeremuszkin-Chrut was born in 1983 in Czestochowa, Poland. She graduated from the Academy of the Fine Arts in Wroclaw (2008) with the Master degree in Painting. In 2007 she st...
Category
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Paul Collomb, Paris, Eiffel Tower, Invalides, The Beautiful View, Oil on Canvas
Located in Saint Amans des cots, FR
Oil on canvas by Paul Collomb (1921-2010), France, 1960s. The beautiful view. Measurements : with frame: 54.5x41.2 cm - 21.5x16.2 inches, without frame: 46x33 cm - 18.1x13 inches, fo...
Category
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Franclisa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The artwork titled "Franclisa" by Gbemileke Blessing Adegboro is a stunning piece that features a lady standing gracefully with two white birds, one on each side of her head. The pai...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Cathedral in Venice, large 20th century oil painting, Italian-American artist
By Louis Bosa
Located in Beachwood, OH
Louis Bosa (American, 1905-1981)
Cathedral in Venice
Oil on canvas
Signed lower left
60.25 x 40.25 inches
66.5 x 46.5 inches, framed
Born in Codroipo, a small village only a few mi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Large Mid Century French Expressionist Signed Oil Horse Racing Scene
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Horse Race
French expressionist artist,
mid 20th century
signed oil on artist paper, unframed
artist paper: 20 x 25.5 inches
provenance: private collection, France
condition: ov...
Category
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Independent
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
At first glance, "Independent" captures the viewer's attention with its striking imagery of a woman wearing a vibrant yellow coat. The choice of yellow as the dominant color is symbo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Canvas
Carnival Night 70X70
Located in Sempach, LU
Carnival Night
Venice, Carnival, masks, ladies in hats, Masquerade!
What could be better to be in Venice on a festive Carnival night! Medieval costumes and dresses, beautiful ladies,...
Category
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Culture 5
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 all ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Dada 1
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The artwork "Dada" features a striking image of a man with dreadlocks. The piece captures the unique and distinctive style of the subject, and it conveys a sense of individuality and...
Category
20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
French Expressionist Oil, La Place du Tertre Montmartre and Sacrè Coeur Paris
Located in Cotignac, FR
French Expressionist oil on board of The Place du Tertre and Sacre Coeur in Paris by Bernard Vivier. Signed to the back of the panel, presented in plain wood frame.
A wonderful colo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
Seclusion
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Seclusion" is a captivating artwork created by Kehinde Oyafajo that depicts a lady sitting on the floor with her hand resting on a stool. The lady is dressed in a sensual way and is...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Lady on Blue 2
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Lady on Blue 2" is a captivating piece of art that features a lady with blue skin sitting in a seductive pose. The painting portrays a woman who is both alluring and mysterious, wit...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Benavente Solis. bull. dream of a bullfighter expressionist acrylic
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
bull. dream of a bullfighter original expressionist acrylic painting
During its first exhibition in Paris, the French press catalogs it like "The Catalan Sorolla".
Honorary Member of...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Wood, Oil
Fairy Tale
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Fairy Tale is a Mixed Media painting by Damilola Olusegun. Damilola created "Fairy Tale on a prime canvas of 60W by 72H inches.
Damilola Olusegun de...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Mixed Media
Garden Blossoms-Original abstract floral landscape oil painting-contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
"Garden" by Valery Khattin, a captivating original abstract landscape painting that brings the beauty of nature to life on canvas. Created with mastery and flair in oil, this artwork...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Africa Girl's Right
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Africa Girl's Right is an original painting by Jonathan Kabeya. Jonathan created Africa Girl's Right with Coffee-Sukarism (Burnt Sugar, ink of pen on a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Linen, Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Pen
Unbeatable Me
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This painting is a self-proclamation painting by Ayomabidele John. The proclamation goes thus:
I choose to be full of love and compassion. I refuse for any part of my heart to be ove...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Arise!!!
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Nigerians arise, brothers and sisters that believe in the union called Nigeria, ARISE!!!
The green-white-green t-shirt has turned to rag on us, let us let go of any excuses to keep ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Dialogue With Butterfly
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Dialogue With Butterfly" is a captivating piece of art that portrays a man with a butterfly in his hand. This artwork is a visual representation of the profound connection between m...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Listen, I am Here
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
'Listen, I am here' is an art Gbenga Eniafe created from the realities of his people. The everyday creative is overlooked even as he presses on. The purple represents his distinctive...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Omodaratan Oni Afro
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
In the realm of art, creativity knows no bounds, and artists continue to amaze us with their ability to capture the essence of beauty in various forms. One such captivating artwork t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Aboja (The Sash Bearer)
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Aboja (The Sash Bearer)" is a provocative and striking work of art created by Nigerian artist Adegbenro Adeola. The painting depicts a woman sitting ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
African Boy I
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
African Boy is a series of paintings by talented artist Faith Gbadero. This series of Artworks captures the response and attitudes of African young adult...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Yesterday, Today II - Expressive Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting, Realism
By Robert Bubel
Located in Salzburg, AT
The painting is signed on the back.
The whole artistic output of Robert Bubel centres around subjective emotions and arousing emotion in the beholder. The source of inspiration- tha...
Category
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Untitled
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
The snowman and the rabbit are handing out gifts to everyone
Located in Sempach, LU
In this oil painting, I sought to capture the essence of joy and the spirit of giving. The snowman, with its wide grin and open arms, represents the warmth of celebration amidst a ch...
Category
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Circle of Chaïm Soutine, Expressionist painting of Fishermen in a French harbour
Located in Harkstead, GB
A very stylish image of a French harbour. Painted with great panache - wonderful brushwork and a vivid palette, reminiscent of the work of Chaim Soutine
Circle of Chaïm Soutine (189...
Category
20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Board, Oil
My Sister and Friend 1
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
My Sister and Friend 1 is an Original painting by Esther Obiwuru. Esther created My Sister and Friend with Acrylic on a 36W by 48H primed canvas.
My Sister and Friend depict the ins...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
No More
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
You are the only person holding yourself back, stop the excuses, wishes, and procrastinating and you can't.
The pain you feel today is the strength of tomorrow in achieving your drea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
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
Against All Odds, I Stand
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Gbelekale Azeez's "Against All Odds, I Stand" is a striking artwork that features a woman standing tall and proud in the face of adversity. The piece is a celebration of resilience, ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Glimpse to Fate
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
What comes to your mind when you see old people,
with shrinking and wrinkled cheeks,
giving slower gestures as if time were in their favor,
What really comes to your mind when you t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic, Polymer
My Little Pet and I
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The art of capturing the essence of a moment in time is a skill that only a few possess. In the world of art, such moments can be immortalized in a painting, a sculpture, or a photog...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Jot at Last
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Joy at Last is an original painting by Gbelekale Azeez. Azeez created Joy at Last Acrylic on a 42W by 42H inches primed canvas.
"Joy at Last" is a beautiful artwork that portrays a ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Cloaks 1: Conceal
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Cloaks 1: Conceal is an original painting by Victor Chigozie. Victor created Cloaks 1: Conceal Acrylic on a 35.4W by 47.2H inches primed canvas.
"Cloaks 1: Conceal" is a thought-pro...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Nature Call 1
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The artwork titled "Nature Call 1" is a striking representation of a man sitting in the middle of two women, with each woman placing a hand on his shoulde...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Journey So Far
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This painting is a tribute to all Mothers and womanhood as a whole.
She is tough, resilient, emotional, fragile, and vulnerable, but still, they remain strong through the different s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
Donas 2.Original crayons paper painting
By Agustin Rio
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
A. Rio .Original gouache paper painting .
AGUSTIN RIO ( Barceona 1923 – Barcelona 1997)
Formed in Llotja i al Cercle Artístic de Sant Lluc He appeared individually in 1953 in the ...
Category
1980s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Crayon, Cardboard
Donas 1.Original crayons paper painting
By Agustin Rio
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
A. Rio Barcelona .Original gouache paper painting .
AGUSTIN RIO ( Barceona 1923 – Barcelona 1997)
Formed in Llotja i al Cercle Artístic de Sant Lluc He appeared individually in 195...
Category
1980s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Crayon, Cardboard
Pandemic Play
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The artwork "Pandemic Play" is a poignant and timely piece that captures the spirit of creativity and resilience during times of hardship. The painting, ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Been Waiting
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Been Waiting is an original painting by Gbemileke Blessing Adegboro. Blessing created Been Waiting with Acrylic on a 30.3W by 42.5H inches primed canvas.
The artwork "Been Waiting" ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Benavente Solis Vertical. Big. green. Bull- original expressionist acrylic
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Bull- original expressionist acrylic painting
During its first exhibition in Paris, the French press catalogs it like "The Catalan Sorolla".
Honorary Member of the MECOART (Mediter...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Wood, Acrylic
The Breakfast Room
Located in Greenwich, CT
A great early date for this artist where he was coming out of the origins of expressionist and fauve works of art. A unique composition depicting a woman setting out a table laden w...
Category
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Masonite, Oil
R. Poch Jazz Quartet acrylic painting
By Ramon Poch
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
7.-Jazz Quartet 100 x 80 cm acrylic painting
Born in Badalona (Barcelona).
Photographer and advertising film director.
Founding partner of the advertising production company La Cos...
Category
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Not Happy About That, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
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 crea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
See Beyond 2
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
I stared at the man with keen interest, hoping to know more about what life has in store for me. The man looked at me sternly, and I couldn’t be more convinced he had seen everything...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic, Oil, Mixed Media
A Chapter of Tranquility
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"A Chapter of Tranquility" by Desmond Akindoju invites viewers into a serene tableau that captures the essence of peaceful coexistence. In this deligh...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Canvas
Large Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Apartment Interior and Cityscape.
Located in Cotignac, FR
A mid century Expressionist oil on canvas of a man, child and cat in an interior with a cityscape beyond. The work is not signed but there are various notations to the top rear stret...
Category
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
"4 Koi 22" - Brightly Colored Koi Fish Underwater - red/orange/yellow/blue/green
By Linda Holt
Located in Wellesley, MA
"4 Koi 22" is a complex work of koi fish swimming underwater filled with light and brilliant color painted in a lush and fluid style bordering on abstraction. Fish are in shades o...
Category
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Snowman family
Located in Sempach, LU
In this oil painting, I've captured the warmth of family ties against the chill of a winter's day. Through impressionistic strokes and an expressionistic palette, I aimed to evoke th...
Category
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Le Cirque
Located in New York, NY
Le Cirque is a rare and most sought after image by the artist of the circus by collectors of Bombois.
This painting shows the circus ring where the performers would perform, the audi...
Category
1940s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
"9 Koi 23 - 2" Brightly Colored Koi Fish Underwater - red/orange/yellow/blue
By Linda Holt
Located in Wellesley, MA
"9 Koi 23 - 2" is a complex work of koi fish swimming underwater filled with light and brilliant color painted in a lush and fluid style bordering on abstraction. Fish are in shad...
Category
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
See Beyond 1
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
I stared at the man with keen interest, hoping to know more about what life has in store for me. The man looked at me sternly, and I couldn’t be more convinced he had seen everything...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
"6.5 Koi 23" Bright Red & White Koi Swimming in Swirls of Blue Water with Green
By Linda Holt
Located in Wellesley, MA
"6.5 Koi 23" is a complex work of koi fish swimming underwater filled with light and brilliant color painted in a lush and fluid style bordering on abstraction. Fish are in shades...
Category
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Antoni COSTA Man original Figurative Academician drawing painting
By A. Costa
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
man. original figurative academician drawing painting. framed
Barcelona, 1904 - Barcelona, 1965
It was formed in Buenos Aires, in the Circle of San Lucas of Barcelona and the FAD.
H...
Category
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Carbon Pencil
Coffee time Sergio Moscona Contemporary art painting colour human comedy
Located in Paris, FR
Acrylic paint, ink and collage on paper
Hand-signed and dated lower left by the artist
Category
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Paper, Ink, Acrylic
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.