Expressionist Paintings
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.
1990s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
1960s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
1940s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Panel
Artist Comments
An ordinary street scene transforms with childlike and stylized elements. The repetitive shapes, especially the triangles, provide uniformity to the composition...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Board
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Boats drift on a vast northeastern body of water in New England. The sun casts a warm glow across the scene. Simple style and expressionist brushwork reduce det...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
1960s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Masonite
1970s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
Artist Comments
Artist James Hartman captures the meeting point of the Berkeley Marina and San Francisco Bay in this expressive California landscape. A favorite Bay Area spot t...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Derived from artist Robert Hofferr's personal photo, this expressionist painting transforms a woodland scene into blocks of color. Warm tones emerge from the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1960s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Board
1980s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Different architectural styles coexist with energetic colors in this expressionist depiction of a neighborhood. Bold brushstrokes suggest houses and trees, bl...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Inspired by artist Robert Hofherr's personal photo, this piece simplifies detail to make a bold and striking composition. Solid, substantial shadows replace o...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
1980s Expressionist Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Trees shine like incandescent light bulbs under the warm afternoon sun. A kaleidoscope of pink, green, and yellow leaves spread across the scene. Overlapping ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
The ethereal beauty of nature manifests as the warm glow of the sun kisses the water’s surface. Golden hour bathes the landscape in soft, radiant colors, ca...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil
1980s Expressionist Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
1990s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1960s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
1930s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Linen, Oil, Panel
1940s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Paper, Wax
1940s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Stretcher Bars
1950s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Board
Artist Comments
A cluster of vibrant orange trees rises beneath an expansive sky brushed with delicate white clouds. In the foreground, a field of grass with reflective patch...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Wire
Artist Comments
Vivid brushstrokes portray crepe myrtle trees swaying in the wind. As colorful as sugar candies, their flowers and leaves burst like Portuguese confetti under...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
1990s Expressionist Paintings
Watercolor, Handmade Paper
1960s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Masonite
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Inspired by the vibrant style of Raoul Dufy, this portrayal of UK monastery ruins transitions from realism to bold colors and lively brushwork, merging modern...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Vibrant blues and greens create a dreamy forest scene. A winding trail cuts through the tall, dark trees, leading to a clearing bathed in light. Pops of warm ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Panel