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.
Mediterranean Village of Mallorca oil on canvas painting
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Artist: Bernat Sanjuan i Tarré (Barcelona, 1915 – Deià, Mallorca, 1979) Title: Mediterranean Village of Mallorca Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 65 × 92 cm (25.6 × 36.2 in) Framed:...
Canvas, Oil
Shadow marshes. Richard K Blades. Painting of sea at sunset. Turner influence.
Located in Coltishall, GB
A warm sunset over Norfolk's Cromer beach. Between Thoughts is a sublime oil painting that captures the mesmerizing tranquility of a sunset over thw North Sea. The horizon is ablaze...
Oil, Board
"Sunset" (2025), Original Expressionist Impasto Landscape, Oil Painting
By Sandra Pratt
Located in Denver, CO
"Serene House" (2025) is a beautiful original impasto oil painting, created on linen panel by American artist Sandra Pratt, which depicts a vast plain at dusk, captured in an express...
Canvas, Oil
No Ordinary Winter's Tale: Resilience, the War 1943, German Expressionist oil
Located in Norwich, GB
This is no ordinary winter scene. It is the story of prosecution and survival; of resolve and resilience during World War 2, as it was experienced by German Expressionist Heinz Lohma...
Oil, Board
"Serene House" (2025), Original Expressionist Impasto Landscape, Oil Painting
By Sandra Pratt
Located in Denver, CO
"Serene House" (2025) is a beautiful original impasto oil painting, created on linen panel by American artist Sandra Pratt, which depicts a vast forest, captured in an expressionisti...
Canvas, Oil
1940's French Signed Oil Expressionist Landscape Riverside Scene
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Riverside Scene By Alex Levrat, French 1941 signed & dated oil on board, framed Framed: 15 x 18 inches Board : 13 x 16 inches Provenance: private collection, France Condition: very g...
Oil
Colourful French Expressionist Landscape, Promeneur au Pigeonnier
Located in Cotignac, FR
French landscape, Expressionist oil on board by Jean Arene. The painting is signed bottom left, titled dated and signed to the back and is presented in the original 'Arene' frame sup...
Oil
Light and Stone in Harmony Sway, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Soft light hits two peaks, casting soft, blue shadows on the cliffs below. In the foreground, a meadow lights up with small, dancing trees. The composition and ...
Oil
Afternoon Colors, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A path leads to Mt. Diablo in this Fauvist landscape. Artist James Hartman used thick layers of oil paint to create an expressive and textured outdoor scene. In...
Oil
Eventide by Richard K Blades. Oil painting of the sea at sunset after a storm.
Located in Coltishall, GB
Richard K Blades is an expressive landscape painter working in the English Romantic tradition. He follows in a long line of artists such as Turner, Constable, Seago, Daubigney and C...
Oil, Board
Last by Richard K Blades. Moody seascape with setting sun. Turner influence
Located in Coltishall, GB
Sunset over the sea after a storm rolls by... portrays a mesmerizing seascape at dusk, where the horizon blurs in a harmonious blend of colors. Blades skillfully manipulates light a...
Oil, Board
'Port-Vendres' Côte Vermeille, France, California, Large Post-Impressionist Oil
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed verso, 'Ant McNaught', (American, born 1952), titled 'Port de Vendres', dated 2022 and inscribed '(After Derain, 1905)'. This California Post-Impressionist and Abstract Expre...
Canvas, Oil
1940s Signed German Impressionist Oil of Rio de Janeiro in Style of Max Slevogt
Located in Soquel, CA
German Impressionist Painting of Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay and Sugarloaf Mountain in style of Max Slevogt This vivid landscape painting offers a panoramic view of Rio de Janeir...
Oil, Board
Poppy meadow 50X70
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I have captured the wild spirit of a meadow, brimming with vibrant poppies. My brushstrokes dance with expressionism and impressionism, while fine art technique...
Canvas, Oil
French Abstract Expressionist Acrylic On Canvas
Located in Cotignac, FR
A contemporary Abstract Expressionist acrylic on canvas by French artist, Christian Manoury. Signed to the back of the canvas. This artwork captures a minimalist aesthetic with its ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Vue sur la Ville au Toit Rouge / View Over the City of Red Roofs
Located in London, GB
Vue sur la Ville au Toit Rouge (View Over the City of Red Roofs), oil on canvas, by Guy Le Péqueux (circa late 1960s). The artist channels his expressionist sensibility into a vivid,...
Canvas, Oil
Vivid Lush Leaves Sketch, Botanic Drawing, Expressionist Style, Watercolor Paper
Located in Barcelona, ES
This expressionist botanical drawing on paper captures the raw vitality of exotic flowers through fresh, vigorous gestures. Milano's drawings abandon precise realism in favor of emot...
Paper, Wax Crayon, Acrylic
Star Gazing, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A woman lies under a vibrant night sky, the stars and planets illuminating her form. Bold colors and energetic directional brushwork add a hypnotizing energy to the composition. This piece is artist Diana Elena Chelaru's personal interpretation of the vast space.
About the Artist
Artist Diana Elena Chelaru creates vibrant expressionist works that explore human emotion and the cosmos. “Art is a means of communication, a way to express my thoughts, hopes, and joys,†says Diana. She uses form, lines, and color to bring her imaginative compositions to life, with inspiration drawn from Byzantine mosaics and Gustav Klimt’s decorative patterns. Diana received her BFA in Painting from George Enescu Art University and an MA in Art History from Queens College. Diana’s creative process is fluid and intuitive, guided by her emotions in the moment, with music as a constant companion. Her studio, located in the basement of her home, is kept clean and organized. When she’s not creating, Diana enjoys spending quality time with her family.
Words that describe this painting: Universe, stars, sky, night, meditation, celestial, space, flow, movement, planets, reclining, expressionism, nature, people, acrylic painting, blue
Star Gazing...
Acrylic
Views from Cider with Rosie 1, Original, Landscape
Located in Deddington, GB
Views from Cider with Rosie 1 is an Original Oil Painting by Eleanor Woolley. This is a Plein Air painting from one of the Artists favourite view points on the Cotswold escarpment. W...
Canvas, Oil
Summer. Flower field 15 Blooming Horizon – Hand-Painted Abstract Floral Acrylic
Located in Zofingen, AG
Summer. Flower field 15, Blooming Horizon – Hand-Painted Abstract Floral Acrylic Painting (80x80 cm) Description: Bring the essence of springtime and renewal into your home with Blo...
Acrylic
Montull Patio Terrace Garden Flowers oil canvas expressionist painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Patio. Original oil canvas expressionist painting
Oil
"Mexican Landscape Water Scene with Figures and Boat" Expressionistic Style
Located in New York, NY
A strong modernist oil painting depicted in the Mid Century by Russian painter Michael Baxte. Mostly known for his abstracted figures on canvas or street scenes, this piece is a wond...
Oil, Masonite
Between Thoughts. Richard K Blades. Painting of sea at sunset. Turner influence.
Located in Coltishall, GB
A warm sunset over Norfolk's Cromer beach. Between Thoughts is a sublime oil painting that captures the mesmerizing tranquility of a sunset over thw North Sea. The horizon is ablaze...
Oil, Board
Vintage American New York City Bridge Cityscape
By Simon Gaon
Located in Buffalo, NY
A gorgeous New York cityscape. Beautifully framed in a silver gilt wooden floater frame. Measuring: 23 by 31 inches overall and 22 by 30 inches image alone. Excellent condition, read...
Oil, Board
Full Calm
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this piece, I explored the tranquil interplay of light and texture over the serene expanse of water, reflecting a quiet sunset. The gentle blending of acrylic and oil in ...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Barcelona and Its People oil painting Spain
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Title: Barcelona and Its People Artist: Josep Maria Martínez Lozano (1923–2006) Year: 1979 Technique: Oil on canvas mounted on board Dimensions: 29.13 x 21.65 in Condition: Unfr...
Oil, Canvas, Board
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...
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century French Expressionist Landscape River and Colorful Mountains
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Expressionist Landscape signed gouache painting on artist paper painting: 9.75 x 12.75 inches provenance: private collection, England condition: very good and sound condition Descr...
Gouache
Flowering branch
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I surrendered to the dance of colors and textures, letting oil become emotion on canvas. Each brushstroke captures the trembling beauty of nature's fleeting m...
Canvas, Oil
"Honey and tar" abstract interior painting by Volskya Lily.
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Honey and tar" abstract interior painting by Volskya Lilya. The size of the painting is 30x20cm, canvas on cardboard. The painting was made with the help of a structural paste of va...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Raventos Landscape of Vineyar Big expressionist mixed media painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
landscape of vineyar - original expressionist mixed media painting RAVENTÓS Mª Assumpció – (San Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona 1930). Raventos trained at the elite Sant Jordi School of F...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Spring poppies 50X50
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I've poured my soul into the vivid crimson blooms, contrasting against the subdued greens and blues, evoking life's vibrancy. Each stroke is a breath, blendin...
Canvas, Oil
Café de la Gare - Mid 20th Century French Expressionist Figurative Oil Painting
Located in Sevenoaks, GB
A superb mid 20th century French expressionist oil on canvas depicting a café de la gare (station café) as inscribed on the reverse. Numerous well dressed figures stand at the café ...
Canvas, Oil
Storm
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I sought to capture the tumultuous yet mesmerizing dance of the sea with the sky. Utilizing the vigor of expressionism blended with soft touches of impression...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Mid Century Expressionist Landscape, Oil on Canvas. The Countryside
Located in Cotignac, FR
Mid Century oil on canvas landscape painting by Franco Hungarian artist Elemer Vagh Weinmann. The painting is signed bottom right and is presented in a custom gilt frame with a white...
Canvas, Oil
Oil painting on canvas " Rough sea with coastline on the horizon " by Schubring
By Richard Schubring
Located in Gavere, BE
Schubring, Richard (1853-1902) Rough sea with coastline on the horizon Oil on canvas. Signed and dated lower right. “1895” Richard SCHUBRING is an artist born in 1853 and deceased...
Gold Leaf
Hillside in Galilee
Located in North Clarendon, VT
Fantastic estate find, Hillside in Galilee by Arieh Allweil. A beautiful expressionist painting by an exceptional artist. Oil on board, signed lower right, 15" x 11" painting, 20" x ...
Oil
Irises on Blue
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I sought to capture the ephemeral beauty of irises, using vibrant strokes of acrylic and oil to express their dynamic, almost lively forms against a vivid blue back...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Dynamic Dusk, NY-original abstract cityscape painting-contemporary art
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Acrylic
Venice Grand Canal Landscape Bouvard Aldine 19/20th Century Paint Oil on canvas
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Antoine Bouvard, called Marc Aldine (L'Isere 1875 - Paris 1957) Signed 'Bouvard' lower right View of Venice with the Grand Canal (link) oil on canvas 60 x 86 cm Framed 70 x 96 cm. Very good condition We present an evocative view of Venice with a glimpse of the fascinating Grand Canal, signed by the famous French Vedutist Antoine Bouvard, also known by his pseudonym, Marc Aldine. Considered one of the most talented illustrators of the lagoon city who worked there in the first part of the 20th century, he became one of the most acclaimed vedutists of that period, with a success that led him to exhibit throughout France and Italy as well as in numerous European galleries...
Oil
A Lady with a Parasol at the Beach. Oil on Canvas
Located in St. Albans, GB
Hubert Glansdorff Belgian 1877 – 1963 Signed bottom right Picture Size: 19 x 28" (47 x 70cm) Outside Frame Size: 27 x 36" (67 x 90cm) A rare chance ...
Oil
Tropical Foliage, Illustration Style Painting, Faux Naive Still Life, Gouache
Located in Barcelona, ES
This expressionist botanical drawing on paper captures the raw vitality of country wildflowers through fresh, vigorous gestures. Milano's drawings abandon precise realism in favor of...
Paper, Wax Crayon, Acrylic
Views from Cider with Rosie 2, Original, Landscape
Located in Deddington, GB
Views from Cider with Rosie 2 is an Original Oil painting by Eleanor Woolley. Painted Plein Air this painting is inspired by the same views Laurie Lee would have been moved by to wri...
Canvas, Oil
Ocean movement
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I captured the visceral force of ocean waves crashing against the rocks. The dynamic brushstrokes and vivid blues convey the exhilaration and unpredictability o...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Piazza di Spagna Roma
By Yves Brayer
Located in London, GB
'Piazza di Spagna, Roma' oil on canvas, by Yves Brayer (1933). At the bottom of the Spanish Steps, is one of the most famous squares in Rome. It owes ...
Canvas, Oil
Lake view by A. Muller - Oil on canvas 60x73 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on canvas with a frame; total size 80x93 cm
Oil
Dracaena, Botanical Garden Plant Still-Life
Located in Soquel, CA
Fun and expressive botanical still-life painting of a Dracaena plant in front of a window by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (American, b.1957), 1976. The bright green leaves are depi...
Canvas, Oil
The Mill
Located in London, GB
'The Mill', watercolour and graphite on paper, adhered on canvas, by Louis Latapie (circa 1930s). A colourful wintery scene, the bare trees are like wireless ...
Canvas, Paper, Watercolor, Graphite
Fantasy with Flowers 50
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Fantasy with Flowers" (series of 200+ pictures) paper 59x42cm On the paper acrylic, oil pastel, felt-tip pen, ink, gold leaf, pencils, silver,mixed media. Flowers are a smile of ...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
"Horses in the field" with yellow popular trees
Located in New York, NY
"Horses in the field" is unique by the artist, because of the location where they are grazing among the yellow popular trees.
Oil
Horses of Branges
Located in New York, NY
The condition is excellent and ready to hang. A photo certificate accompanies this painting and will be included in the forth coming catalogue raisonne. Signed lower right, and dated...
Oil
'The Port of Honfleur' by Julien Varlet (1958)
Located in London, GB
'The Port of Honfleur, France', oil on canvas, by Julien Varlet (1958). A vibrant and evocative harbour scene from the historic port city of Honfleur in Normandy, France. Colourful, ...
Canvas, Oil
¨Topiaria¨. Expressionist colorful garden. Big format Oil on canvas
Located in Segovia, ES
Topiaria. Big format Oil on canvas Beautiful garden by Chico Montilla. Measurements: (H) 130 x (W) 195 x 3 cm. Framed 142 x 207 x 5 cm. Colorful expressionist view of a garden with plants that have been given artistic form through the topiary art...
Canvas, Oil
French Expressionist Landscape, The Abri at L'Olivette, Cap d'Antibes
Located in Cotignac, FR
A French Expressionist oil on canvas landscape of countryside at L'Olivette, Cap d'Antibes on the French Riviera, by Germain Bonel. The painting is signed bottom right and signed, dated and titled to the back of the canvas. A strong and impactful composition of the trees and forest leading down to the sea wall and then the Mediterranean beyond at the Port (or 'Abri' as it is also known) of l'Olivette on the west coast of Cap d'Antibes, the iconic location in the South of France. This former small traditional fishing port from the beginning of the twentieth century is now converted into a picturesque little marina on Cap d'Antibes, with its rocky cove, its beach, its pine forest, its umbrella pines, olive trees, fig trees, and agaves and its famous 'Villa Aujourd'hui' a modernist residence built by American architect Barry Dierks (1899-1960) in 1938 for socialite Mrs. Audrey Chadwick. L'Olivette has a privileged panoramic view of the Gulf of Juan, and the coastal shores of Cap d'Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, Golfe-Juan, and the Pointe Croisette of Cannes. Germain Bonel (5 August 1913 – 2002) was a French painter of Catalan origin. From 1967 to 1983, he was a professor of drawing and painting at the Perpignan School of Fine Arts. From 1969 to 1978, he also taught art in the schools of Saint-Cyprien-village and Saint-Cyprien-Plage. Germain Bonel's painting is both expressionist and decorative. Georges-Henry Gourrier said of him: "Germain Bonel's painting expresses [quite naturally] the singular beauty of forms, the radiant force of colour, the deepening of matter and the tenderness of the things of life. His work appears to be a painting of plenitude." From 1941 to 1945, Germain Bonel studied drawing at the Municipal School of Fine Arts in Perpignan. He won first prize in 1945. Out of competition, he continued his studies at the same school from 1945 to 1948 and he regularly exhibited his works at the annual exhibition held at the Salle Arago in Perpignan. Germain Bonel met François Desnoyer in 1950 and introduced him to the Catalan artistic milieu. He was admitted to the Salon d'Automne in Paris in 1951 and exhibited until 1961, when he became a member of the salon. As early as 1951 a commentary said, "with the canvas hanging...
Canvas, Oil
Do Not Go Gentle Into that GoodNight-Original-British Awarded Artist-EnglishRose
Located in London, GB
Taking on the inspiration of the legendary poet, Dylan Thomas, the poem, Do not go gentle into that good night, is a painting celebrates life in its ageing; as Rosa Albertine only flowers once in early Summer with the most festive blooms and heavenly scents, a symbol of a fully lived life. Painted Plein Air, in Artist's own garden of her very own planted memorial roses. This is Rosa Albertine, the first Old English variety Artist Shizico Yi planted in 2016 in her garden before her late dog died; Old English Roses...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Oil, Acrylic
St Ives Shadows, Cornwall, Original painting, Oil on canvas, Coastal art, Beach
Located in Deddington, GB
St Ives Shadows is an Original Painting by Eleanor Woolley. Painted in the Artist's Gloucestershire Studio, St Ives Shadows is inspired by a trip to Cornwall last Summer. Photographs...
Oil, Canvas
The landscape.Red mountains in the style of Paul Gauguin" original painting by L
Located in Zofingen, AG
The landscape.Red mountains in the style of Paul Gauguin" original painting by Lilia Volskaya.Size:55x75 cm. Cotton canvas, mineral pigments, natural environmental paints. Painting i...
Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century German Expressionist
Located in San Francisco, CA
Bit of a mystery oil on masonite. Painting is marked "Germany" on reverse stretcher. It is a powerful expressionistic landscape scene. It measures 7 inches high by 7 wide. The frame ...
Oil
Evening Bay
Located in Zofingen, AG
The canvas is glued onto thick cardboard. In this painting, I poured my fascination with the interplay of light on water, using acrylic and oil to capture the ephemeral glow of sunse...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
French Modernist Large Floral Oil Painting Expressionist Flowers in Vase
By Henri d'Anty
Located in Surfside, FL
Frae measures 47 X 27 Image is 39 X 19. Henri Maurice D'Anty, listed French artist,Henry d'Anty 1910-1998 Born 1910 in Belleville France. Died in December 4 1998. Educated at the Aca...
Canvas, Oil