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Expressionist 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
Artist: Dorothy Fitzgerald
They found the pike but it wasn’t alone
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original oil, oil stick and charcoal diptych painting on canvas by Contemporary female artist Dorothy Fitzgerald. This monumental work measures 60" (h) x 120" (w) This work was featured in the recent exhibition of The Corridors Gallery at Hotel Henry...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil

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At the center of "Await For Desire" stands a young woman, her expression laden with introspection. Her captivating gaze invites viewers to explore the depths of their own desires and longings. Mayowa's depiction of the woman symbolizes the human capacity for introspection and the journey of self-discovery. Her youth suggests a sense of innocence as if she is at the precipice of embarking on a profound exploration of her desires, dreams, and aspirations. The rose flower held gently in the young woman's hand adds a layer of intrigue to the artwork. Roses have long been associated with love, desire, and beauty. In this context, the rose becomes a metaphor for the desires that lie within each of us, waiting to be explored and embraced. The delicacy with which the young woman holds the rose signifies the fragility and vulnerability of these desires. The petals, beautifully rendered by Mayowa, exude a sense of purity and grace, mirroring the young woman's own essence. The title of the artwork, "Await For Desire," suggests a period of patient waiting and introspection. Mayowa invites viewers to contemplate the nature of desire and the role it plays in shaping our lives. The young woman's expression implies a moment of deep reflection as if she is on the cusp of a significant realization or decision. This evokes a sense of intrigue, urging viewers to reflect on their own desires, their significance, and the choices that emerge from such introspection. Akingbade Mayowa...
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Perception
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Perception is a painting that addresses individual perceptions about herself and how others see her. The subject in this painting gazes directly at the viewer to have eye-to-eye contact for an engaging conversation. She poses confidently and is ready for a dialogue. The motifs and icons generated from peacock feathers are used to weave the subject to further show the dignity of the personality. In the background of the painting are African icons to highlight the background of the subject. Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Emmanuel Ibitoye hails from Aiyedun in the Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State Nigeria. He developed an interest in art right from primary school. He further fuelled his passion for art at Osi Central Secondary School, Osi. He proceeded to Osun State College of Education Ila-Orangun where he studied fine and Applied art from 2012 to 2015. He is an Art Educator and a multi-media painter who uses his art to address issues such as environmental decadence, culture, and racism. He believes that art is a tool that can be used to bring about environmental and human sanity, cultural integration, and the breaking of racial barriers. He uses his art to project the black race in a dignified manner, he is the exponent of Neo- black Renaissance Art...
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Perception
Perception
H 36.2 in W 35.4 in D 1 in
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Le Cadre Noir de Saumur - Expressionist Oil, Figures on Horse by André Brasilier
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Signed oil on canvas circa 1965 by French expressionist painter Andre Brasilier. The work depicts four military men in French naval uniform on black horses. A wonderful piece in the artist's distinctive style. Signature: Signed: Signed lower left Dimensions: Framed size: 28"x32" Unframed: 20"x24" Provenance: Private French collection André Brasilier was the son of the painter Jacques Brasilier. After studying in Saumur and St-Germain-en-Laye, he joined Brianchon's studio in 1949 at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He was awarded the Prix Florence-Blumenthal in 1952 and the Grand Prix de Rome in 1953. He lived at the Villa de' Medicis from 1954 to 1957. He also received the Prix Charles-Morellet at the Salon de la Jeune Peinture in 1961 and the Prix de Villeneuve-sur-Lot in 1962. Brasilier's paintings are populated by beautiful, elegant women, respectable nudes and high-class gentlemen and are set in pleasant Val-de-Loire backgrounds, resplendent with landscapes and charming towns. Revealing the distant inspiration of Gauguin and the well-assimilated influence of certain other artists, Brasilier depicts a peaceful, comfortable world, free from care, in a very simple, stylish manner, with delicate harmonies bathed in accommodating sunlight. Brasilier took part in group exhibitions from 1956, including many in Paris: at the Salon de la Jeune Peinture; regularly at the Salon d'Automne; at the École de Paris exhibition at the Galerie Charpentier (1954-1957); at the Paris Biennale (1961 and 1963); and at the Salon Comparaisons (1961-1964). Mainly, however, he showed his work in solo exhibitions, including: at the Galerie Drouet in Paris (1959); at the Galerie Weil in Paris (1960 and 1964); at the David B. Finlay Gallery in New York (1962, 1971 and 1974); at the Atelier Mourlot in Paris (1964); at the Galerie Guiot in Paris (1967); at the Galerie de Paris (1969, 1972 and 1976); at the Yoshii Gallery in Tokyo (1969, 1974 and 1977); at the Galerie Matignon in Paris (1979); a first retrospective at the Château de Chenonceau in Paris (1980); at the Nichido Gallery in Tokyo (1983); a retrospective at the Musée Picasso in Antibes...
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'Massacre of Tlatelolco', Plaza de las Tres Culturas, Mexican Olympics, Rio MAM
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Previously Available Items
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Expressionist paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Expressionist 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 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, orange, purple, green and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Iryna Kastsova, Maria Asuncion Raventos, Masri Hayssam, and Evelyne Ballestra. 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 paintings, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available.

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