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Expressionist Interior 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
Snap Peas, Expressionist Portrait of Young Woman by Philadelphia Artist
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Snap Peas" is an interior portrait of a young woman working at her kitchen table, painted by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 24" x 36" oil on board painting from 1955 is signed "Harmon" in the lower left and it is framed in a new black wood frame. Figurative expressionism in the style of Alice Neel. Bernard Harmon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935. Harmon was primarily a portrait painter and a well loved teacher in the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Philadelphia Museum School and Temples Tyler School of Art, Harmon traveled extensively in Europe and South America. Beloved by many, Harmon taught in the Philadelphia School District for 32 of his 54 years of life. Beginning his career as an art teacher at West Philadelphia High School, in the early 1960s he became one of the district's artists in residence, traveling from school to school to demonstrate for students how an artist works. Returning to the classroom, Harmon joined the art department at Central High School where he taught for 14 years and became an innovator in art curriculum, developing a program offering advanced placement art classes to gifted students. In his final years Harmon became a supervisor, mentoring teachers and overseeing programs in the Philadelphia school systems District #1. During his short life Harmon taught collage preparatory art classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, summer classes at the University of the Arts, and a Saturday program for gifted children at Drexel University. Among Harmon's portraits were commissioned by Philadelphia Jazz organist Jimmy Smith and Mayor Richardson Dilworth. Bernard Harmon was active in promoting African American Artist throughout his life time. He organized many early shows such as the "Afro American Artists 1800 - 1969" at the Museum of the Philadelphia Civic Center in 1969. He was considered a Renaissance man by friends and colleagues for his interests not only in art but music and theater as well. He was familiar and friends with many other African American artists such as Doc Thrash, Selma Burke, Paul Keene...
Category

1950s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Spotlight, seated female figure with plants warm and cool green combinations
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This is an oil on linen painting signed and dated on reverse.
Category

2010s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Expressionist Pink Oil Paint Flower: Orquídea (Orchid)
Located in Segovia, ES
Expressionist interior corner that has an orchid as its protagonist. Predominant chromaticism between fuchsia-pink and yellow. Oil on linen by Spanish artist Chico Montilla. Beautifu...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Red Sofa seated female figure with cat and pillows dominant red color
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This painting of a seated woman with her cat is an early work by the artist. It has been held by the artist, exhibited only twice in the 36 years since its creation and is on excelle...
Category

1980s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Blue Period artist as subject humorous observation coll blue and Grey tones
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Soft pastel on archival toned paper signed and dated top left. Part of an ongoing series by the artist of artist and model subject matter
Category

2010s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Archival Paper

Girl at Desk, Expressionist Portrait of Young Woman by Philadelphia Artist
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Girl at Desk" is an oil on board portrait painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon of a young woman, presumably a student, sitting by her desk. This work features a second portrait on verso of an elegant older woman. The painting is 40" x 36" in size and is signed "Harmon" on verso. Figurative expressionism in the style of Alice Neel. Bernard Harmon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935. Harmon was primarily a portrait painter and a well loved teacher in the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Philadelphia Museum School and Temples Tyler School of Art, Harmon traveled extensively in Europe and South America. Beloved by many, Harmon taught in the Philadelphia School District for 32 of his 54 years of life. Beginning his career as an art teacher at West Philadelphia High School, in the early 1960s he became one of the district's artists in residence, traveling from school to school to demonstrate for students how an artist works. Returning to the classroom, Harmon joined the art department at Central High School where he taught for 14 years and became an innovator in art curriculum, developing a program offering advanced placement art classes to gifted students. In his final years Harmon became a supervisor, mentoring teachers and overseeing programs in the Philadelphia school systems District #1. During his short life Harmon taught collage preparatory art classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, summer classes at the University of the Arts, and a Saturday program for gifted children at Drexel University. Among Harmon's portraits were commissioned by Philadelphia Jazz organist Jimmy Smith and Mayor Richardson Dilworth. Bernard Harmon was active in promoting African American Artist throughout his life time. He organized many early shows such as the "Afro American Artists 1800 - 1969" at the Museum of the Philadelphia Civic Center in 1969. He was considered a Renaissance man by friends and colleagues for his interests not only in art but music and theater as well. He was familiar and friends with many other African American artists such as Doc Thrash, Selma Burke, Paul Keene...
Category

1970s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Fashion Girl, Expressionist Portrait of a Woman by Philadelphia Artist
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Fashion Girl" is an oil on board portrait painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon of a stylishly dressed woman sitting on a chair. This work features a se...
Category

1970s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

"Cat Scratching Table, " Oil Painting on Canvas Interior signed by Nicolas Dreux
By Nicolas Dreux
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Cat Scratching Table" is an original oil painting on canvas by Nicolas Dreux. The artist signed the piece lower left. It depicts a cat and a bird in a pastel-colored interior. 18" x 14" art 27 1/4" x 23 1/4" frame Nicolas Dreux was born on March 10, 1956 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He began to paint as a student of painter Calixte Henri...
Category

1980s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Expressionist Still Life by Philadelphia Artist
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Red Still Life" is an interior still life by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 28.25" x 24.25" oil on board painting is framed in a new black wood frame. Bernard Harmon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935. Harmon was primarily a portrait painter and a well loved teacher in the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Philadelphia Museum School and Temples Tyler School of Art, Harmon traveled extensively in Europe and South America. Beloved by many, Harmon taught in the Philadelphia School District for 32 of his 54 years of life. Beginning his career as an art teacher at West Philadelphia High School, in the early 1960s he became one of the district's artists in residence, traveling from school to school to demonstrate for students how an artist works. Returning to the classroom, Harmon joined the art department at Central High School where he taught for 14 years and became an innovator in art curriculum, developing a program offering advanced placement art classes to gifted students. In his final years Harmon became a supervisor, mentoring teachers and overseeing programs in the Philadelphia school systems District #1. During his short life Harmon taught collage preparatory art classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, summer classes at the University of the Arts, and a Saturday program for gifted children at Drexel University. Among Harmon's portraits were commissioned by Philadelphia Jazz organist Jimmy Smith and Mayor Richardson Dilworth. Bernard Harmon was active in promoting African American Artist throughout his life time. He organized many early shows such as the "Afro American...
Category

1960s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Boy Waiting, Portrait of a Young Man by Philadelphia Artist
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Boy Waiting" is an oil on board portrait painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon of a young man with somber expression, sitting on a chair. This work features a second environmental portrait on verso. The painting is 41.75" x 35.75" in size and is signed "Harmon" on verso. Figurative expressionism in the style of Alice Neel. Provenance: Estate of the Artist; Gratz Gallery & Conservation Studio, Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Bernard Harmon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935. Harmon was primarily a portrait painter and a well loved teacher in the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Philadelphia Museum School and Temples Tyler School of Art, Harmon traveled extensively in Europe and South America. Beloved by many, Harmon taught in the Philadelphia School District for 32 of his 54 years of life. Beginning his career as an art teacher at West Philadelphia High School, in the early 1960s he became one of the district's artists in residence, traveling from school to school to demonstrate for students how an artist works. Returning to the classroom, Harmon joined the art department at Central High School where he taught for 14 years and became an innovator in art curriculum, developing a program offering advanced placement art classes to gifted students. In his final years Harmon became a supervisor, mentoring teachers and overseeing programs in the Philadelphia school systems District #1. During his short life Harmon taught collage preparatory art classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, summer classes at the University of the Arts, and a Saturday program for gifted children at Drexel University. Among Harmon's portraits were commissioned by Philadelphia Jazz organist Jimmy Smith and Mayor Richardson Dilworth. Bernard Harmon was active in promoting African American Artist throughout his life time. He organized many early shows such as the "Afro American Artists 1800 - 1969" at the Museum of the Philadelphia Civic Center in 1969. He was considered a Renaissance man by friends and colleagues for his interests not only in art but music and theater as well. He was familiar and friends with many other African American artists such as Doc Thrash, Selma Burke...
Category

1960s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Expressionist Tabletop Still Life by Philadelphia Artist
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Grey Still Life" is a tabletop still life by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 24.25" x 28.25" oil on board painting is framed in a new black wood frame. Bernard Harmon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935. Harmon was primarily a portrait painter and a well loved teacher in the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Philadelphia Museum School and Temples Tyler School of Art, Harmon traveled extensively in Europe and South America. Beloved by many, Harmon taught in the Philadelphia School District for 32 of his 54 years of life. Beginning his career as an art teacher at West Philadelphia High School, in the early 1960s he became one of the district's artists in residence, traveling from school to school to demonstrate for students how an artist works. Returning to the classroom, Harmon joined the art department at Central High School where he taught for 14 years and became an innovator in art curriculum, developing a program offering advanced placement art classes to gifted students. In his final years Harmon became a supervisor, mentoring teachers and overseeing programs in the Philadelphia school systems District #1. During his short life Harmon taught collage preparatory art classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, summer classes at the University of the Arts, and a Saturday program for gifted children at Drexel University. Among Harmon's portraits were commissioned by Philadelphia Jazz organist Jimmy Smith and Mayor Richardson Dilworth. Bernard Harmon was active in promoting African American Artist throughout his life time. He organized many early shows such as the "Afro American...
Category

1960s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

White on White Blue, Expressionist Still Life by Philadelphia Artist
Located in Doylestown, PA
"White on White Blue" is a monochromatic, interior still life by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 20" x 16" oil on canvas painting is framed and signed "B ...
Category

1950s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

In The Room #5 by Katya Tsareva - Expressionist painting, oil on canvas, 2021
Located in Basel, BS
The Room #4 is the 4th work in "In The Room" series by contemporary artist Katya Tsareva. In this series the artist continues to analyze the difficult re...
Category

2010s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

LOVELY MUSIC
Located in Aventura, FL
Original oil on canvas painting. Hand signed on front; signed and titled on verso by the artist. Canvas is stretched. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity ...
Category

20th Century Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Acquisition female figure with bird sculpture warm earth tones flash of red
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oil on linen canvas signed and dated on reverse
Category

2010s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Interieur, 1964
Located in Atlanta, GA
Henk van der Plas was a Dutch Postwar & Contemporary artist who was born in 1936. Henk van der Plas's work has been offered at auction multiple times, with realized prices ranging f...
Category

20th Century Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Carnival in Rio" - Colorful horizontal expressionist painting.
Located in Miami, FL
The celebration of the yearly Carnival in exuberant Rio de Janeiro.
Category

1990s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Paul Manes - Palaz of the Hoon, Painting 2008
Located in Greenwich, CT
Paul Manes was born May 4, 1948, in Austin, Texas. He began his professional career in New York City in the early 1980s. His art has been widely exhibited in America and Europe and h...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint, Oil

Dody in the Afternoon
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Noted German Expressionist artist Fritz Schwaderer, was classically schooled in fine art in Germany in the early-mid 1920’s. Schwaderera...
Category

1940s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Orchestra
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Jirayr Zorthian(1911-2004), went through two Turkish massacres before age eight. He left Turkey at age nine with his family and spent a year in Padua, Italy, waiting for his visa to open to the United States. This period was very important in his life because his father took him to many cities in Europe and exposed him to great works of art. Zorthian arrived in the United States at the age of eleven and settled with his family in New Haven, Connecticut. He obtained his formal education there, after graduating from Yale in 1932, the Winchester Fellowship granted him a year and a half at the American Academy in Rome with travel and study throughout Europe. His art career branched into various directions on his return to the United States. As a mural painter his reputation was established. He has forty two (42) murals throughout the United States. Zorthian worked and taught painting at some of the finest art academies on the west coast including both the Chouinard Art Institute and the Otis Art Institute. "The Orchestra...
Category

1950s Expressionist Interior Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

Expressionist interior paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Expressionist interior 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 interior paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of purple, blue, orange, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Iryna Kastsova, Bernard Harmon, Robert Hofherr, and Karen Lastre. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Acrylic 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 interior paintings, so small editions measuring 7.88 inches across are also available.

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