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.
1950s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1960s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic, Panel
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Stainless Steel
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Pigment
1970s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Bold brushstrokes capture the lively yet restful energy of a marsh. The colors shift and blend, reflecting the ever-changing landscape. The scene portrays the...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
Early 2000s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1980s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
1990s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
A whimsical village emerges among trees. The carefully arranged houses and foliage form an engaging scene. The bright color palette reinforces the non-represent...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Board
1960s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A woodland home takes on a playful vibrancy through bold colors and simplified shapes. Layers of violet, crimson, and deep green underpainting heighten contrast...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil
1960s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Board
Artist Comments
Vibrant colors fill the sky and water, setting a lively and energetic tone for the harbor scene. Bold brushstrokes and color replace literal representation, cap...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A small path winds through a quiet woodland, reimagined with bold color and subtle texture. The few bare trees create visual tension. The rest of the forest tak...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Expressionist Paintings
Paper, Oil
Artist Comments
Two figures gaze toward a light emerging from surrounding darkness, where directional strokes create a sense of flowing movement. A warm glow illuminates their ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
1990s Expressionist Paintings
Wood, Acrylic
1980s Expressionist Paintings
Watercolor
20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A cluster of derelict farmhouses and barns emerges from bold colors and grids. Energetic brushstrokes replace realistic detail. The Fauvist treatment breathes n...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Bold colors and expressive strokes define a small stream surrounded by woods. Strategically placed linear elements create a nearly abstract composition. Artist ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Linen, Oil, Panel
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Color Pencil, Canvas
Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
1940s Expressionist Paintings
Paper, Pencil, Carbon Pencil
Artist Comments
Inspired by Paul Klee, this painting distills buildings and trees into minimalistic shapes. Rough strokes in a soft yellow frame the composition, while a teal...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Panel
1930s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
1960s Expressionist Paintings
Tempera
20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Deep blue tones envelop a blurred San Francisco cityscape, evoking a dreamlike memory of a fleeting moment. The triangular panel enhances the composition’s un...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Two figures stand close in an abstract forest, their forms blending with the trees. Directional brushstrokes capture the gentle sound of wind rustling through t...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic