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.
Marina Cyclists, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
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...
Oil
$1,406
"Evening city over the sea bay. The triptych. An atmospheric seascape in blue."
Located in Zofingen, AG
Evening city over the sea bay. The triptych. An atmospheric seascape in blue. The central painting has a size of 40x40cm. The left part of the triptych has a size of 30x40cm. The r...
Canvas, Lacquer, Oil, Acrylic
Moonlight 60X50 oil
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this piece, I channeled the serene yet profound energy of the nocturnal seascape. The interplay of moonlight sheathing the waves carries a tranquil aura, while the ethere...
Canvas, Oil
$3,281
Large modern expressionist figurative still life painting "Threefold Grace"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Threefold Grace" is a contemporary still life by French artist Natalya Mougenot, whose vibrant floral compositions celebrate color as emotion and gesture as language. In this radia...
Canvas, Linen, Acrylic
$2,750
'Waves off the Coast', Monterey, California, Large Modernist Seascape
By Alberto Conti
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right "A. Conti" for Alberto Conti (Italian, 1895-1982) and painted circa 1960. A dramatic Expressionist style coastal scene showing a view of a breaking wave off the c...
Oil, Board
$1,584Sale Price|20% Off
Pansies Oil Painting on Canvas, Expressionist Style, 2010s, Unframed
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
This original oil painting, "Pansies", is a vibrant still life that captures the beauty of a floral bouquet. The artist's passion is evident in every brushstroke, as light dances acr...
Canvas, Oil
Venice, I miss you 50X60
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
Imbued with my longing for the serene canals, this oil on canvas embodies my passion for the city's dance of light and shadow. Textured brushstrokes capture the fluidity of water and...
Canvas, Oil
Bird on a branch (Cyornis rubeculoides)
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, infused with expressionism and realism, I captured the vivid essence and delicate poise of a small bird perched on a branch. The soft, blended background in gre...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Poch 8 Maria de las Mercedes Acrylic Painting, Expressionist, Unframed, 2010+
By Ramon Poch
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
8.-Maria de las Mercedes 115 x90 cm acrylic painting Born in Badalona (Barcelona). Photographer and advertising film director. Founding partner of the advertising production compan...
Acrylic
Five Miles Out
By Kevin Kearns
Located in Boston, MA
Kevin Kearns' oil paintings on panel are highly sought after works. While seascape painting is traditional in a sense, Kearns' execution of these paintings is rooted in expressionism...
Oil
Herbert Parrish "After The Rain" Floral Still Life
Located in San Francisco, CA
Herbert Parrish "After The Rain" floral still life painting of marigolds Oil on masonite 11" x 14" unframed, 21" x 24" framed
Oil, Masonite
"Still Life around 1920" German/US painter of the Berlin Secession Oil on canvas
By Annot Jacobi
Located in Eltville am Rhein, DE
Annot Jacobi Berlin 1894 - 1981 Munich Still Life Oil on canvas Signed lower right Size: 65 x 50 cm Frame: 73 x 58 cm Good original condition, minor pai...
Oil
Peony impromptu
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've captured the transient beauty of blossoms, conveying a blend of vitality and tenderness. My brushstrokes reflect the impressionism's play with light and ex...
Canvas, Oil
Early Morning
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I immersed myself in the visceral emotions that follow a tempest's passing—relief, contemplation, and a sense of renewal. I chose a blend of acrylics and oils...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
$4,400Sale Price|32% Off
Cathedral in Venice, large 20th century oil painting, Italian-American artist
By Louis Bosa
Located in Beachwood, OH
Louis Bosa (American, 1905-1981) Cathedral in Venice Oil on canvas Signed lower left 60.25 x 40.25 inches 66.5 x 46.5 inches, framed Born in Codroipo, a small village only a few mi...
Oil
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Learning How to Breathe Again - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, People
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
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 Emma...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$1,100
Working without a Net Oil On Canvas Female Character Starry Moonlight REDUCED
Located in Houston, TX
Reduced from $1450. Working without a Net 20" x 20" oil Dogs sometimes accompany the pale bald “Everywoman” protagonist on her journeys that often take place beneath a starry moonl...
Canvas, Oil
Pearl Seascape
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I poured my emotions into capturing the transcendent beauty of a seascape at sunset. Using acrylic and oil, I merged expressionism with impressionism to evoke the s...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Expressionist Portraits On Surfboard, Oil Painting, signed
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Multi Portrait Abstract Expressionist On Surfboard Signed, horizontal and vertical. Peter Robert Keil was born to an artist blacksmith father whom he lost very early in his childhoo...
Oil
Lavender scent
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this oil painting, I sought to capture serenity and harmony. The brushstrokes radiate a calm energy, marrying the soft purples and blues of a blooming lavender field with the gen...
Canvas, Oil
$1,902
Abstract Landscape Painting entitled Broken Ground by Fauvist British Artist
By Steve Capper
Located in Preston, GB
Abstract Landscape Painting entitled Broken Ground by Fauvist British Artist, Steve Capper Art measures 16 x 12 inches Frame measures 24 x 20 inches (approx.) Presented in a whit...
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Board
Bird in the forest
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've captured the serene vibrancy of a yellow bird perched delicately amidst a hazy forest. The oil strokes blend realism with impressionism, creating a soft yet pr...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Dress up the snowman! Gift Art 30X25
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In the embrace of winter's chill, I crafted this oil painting, where vibrant touches of expressionism meet the tender narrative of impressionism. A child's innocent connection with a...
Canvas, Oil
One warm day
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I let emotions guide each stroke, capturing the quiet energy of a secluded path, the dance of warm light through leaves. The blend of styles speaks to fleetin...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
Welcome! Gift Art 30X25
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I captured the joyful essence of winter's enchantment. The cheerful snowman, adorned in vibrant attire, embodies the warmth of the season against the cool, impr...
Canvas, Oil
Irises in the Garden
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant fusion of emotion and color, I've layered acrylics, oil pastels, and colored pencils to craft a garden alive with movement. My brushstrokes echo expressionist fervor,...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Satin Paper
Seeing Autumn, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A lone tree stands in the middle of a vast meadow, with a single cloud hovering over it. Its leaves, painted in shades of yellow and red, subtly hint at the c...
Oil
$2,880Sale Price|40% Off
Large-Scale Abstract Expressionism with Aqua, Teal, Grey, & White
By D.S. Silver
Located in Soquel, CA
Expressive and dynamic large-scale abstract expressionist painting by D.S. Silver (American, 20th Century), c.1985. Big and bold brushstrokes in a palette of cool colors, including aqua, teal, grey, and white, dance across the huge canvas...
Canvas, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
Sunny terrace
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
I poured my heart into creating this giclee print, a vivid dance of color and light that celebrates the serene beauty of nature. Inspired by the interplay of expressionism and impres...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
Symbiosis
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vivid fusion of expressionism and pop art, I captured the raw, emotional energy of a musician bonded with her guitar. Layering acrylics and oils, I sought to embody the passi...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,891Sale Price|20% Off
Carpet of Bluebells, Rachael Dalzell, Acrylic on Canvas with Tray Frame
Located in Coltishall, GB
The colours of spring as bluebells carpet the woods at Blickling Rachael’s paintings are large, colourful and expressive. Her free and lively use of paint through various technique...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,846Sale Price|20% Off
Vibrant Bathers Scene, Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Early 20th Century
Located in Genève, GE
Work on canvas Dimension with frame : 46 x 54.5 x 3.3 cm Vibrant Bathers Scene This expressionist painting captures a lively scene of nude figures gathered near the water, portrayed ...
Oil, Canvas
Mexican Contemporary Artist Ricardo Ramirez - Pensativo
By Ricardo Ramírez
Located in Guadalajara, Jalisco
Pensativo Ricardo Ramírez Rodríguez Mixed Media on Canvas 80 x 100 cm 2007, MX Unframed
Mixed Media
Polzeath
By Rupert Aker
Located in Deddington, GB
Polzeath, evening [2021] original Acrylic on canvas Image size: H:40 cm x W:50 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:40 cm x W:50 cm x D:2cm Frame Size: H:43 cm x W:53 cm x D:3cm Sol...
Canvas, Acrylic
"Mexican Interior Scene Scene with Figures and Fish" 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
$900Sale Price|25% Off
Coit Tower, San Francisco - Mid Century Urban Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful mid century expressionist urban landscape of Coit Tower and skyline of San Francisco, circa 1950s. Signed lower right illegibly (D. Y'Gasseu?). Co...
Canvas, Oil
$4,968Sale Price|20% Off
Interior with fruit . Colorful Expressionist Still-life Oil painting
Located in Segovia, ES
Interior with fruit (Interior con frutas). Expressionist Colorful Oil on wood panel Still life with view in the background, Author: Aracely Alarcón. Me...
Oil, Wood Panel
Seated Woman - Original oil painting
Located in Paris, IDF
Bengt Lindström Seated woman Original oil painting Unsigned On paper applied on wood panel 107 x 77 cm (c. 42 x 31 in) Presented in black wood frame 123 x 93 cm (c. 49 x 37 in) Ver...
Oil
Moonlight Night
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I poured my emotions into every stroke, capturing the haunting beauty of a moonlit night. Blending acrylics, watercolors, and ink, I embraced expressionism and impr...
Acrylic, Archival Paper
Big Rio, Original Contemporary Expressionist Landscape Oil Painting on Linen
Located in Boston, MA
Big Rio, Original Contemporary Expressionist Landscape Painting 48" x 48" x 1.75" (HxWxD) Oil on Linen This large square-format work by artist Carol Tippit Woolworth features a stunning color palette of rich greens and reds combined with muted blues, purples, and orange tones. There is a balance, both with the color, but also with the composition as the Rio Grande wraps around the curves in the Southwestern landscape, opening up towards the viewer and simultaneously guiding your eye around to the landscape in the distance. This Mexican desert appears calm and a bit desolate, but also bursting with life and energy through the colors used and the loose, energetic mark making that is characteristic of expressionist landscape works. Artist Commentary: The Rio Grande About the Artist: Art has always been a central part of Carol's life. Constantly drawing as a child, the passion to create something two dimensional has continued to this day, through oil and gouache. Carol currently lives in Santa Fe, NM and exhibits at Smilow Mathiesen Gallery on Canyon Road. She graduated with a BA in Art through the University of California at Santa Barbara, with an emphasis in Painting, but has continued to study at various art institutions (Parsons NYC; Silvermine Artists Guild, CT; Rohaton Art Center, CT; Delaware College of Art & Design (DCAD), DE) throughout her career. She now teaches painting at DCAD (Continuing Education), has several private art students, and leads painting workshops in France twice a year. She also works as a self-employed graphic designer. Carol has always been interested in France, the French landscape and French culture. She loves the fields and hilltop towns,and the strong clean lines and shapes they create. The past couple of years this influence has dominated her work. Her landscapes are a constant search for color, contrast, and shapes. Recently Carol has discovered the natural beauty of Lancaster County PA and Northern New Mexico, and is applying her French vocabulary to these new areas. Another influence early on was of an artist whom she babysat for, and who lived across the street, in Santa Barbara: Priscella Bender Shore. She eventually became her favorite art teacher and mentor at the Santa Barbara Community College. Priscella's work was of women in a swimming pools, reflecting and refracting light. They were both figurative and abstract. This images haunted Carol's memories until she could recently recreate the swimming pool paintings...
Linen, Oil
Polish Expressionist Profile Portrait Drawing TWO CHILDREN
Located in Surfside, FL
Genre: Other Subject: Figures Medium: Other, Gouache Surface: Paper Country: United States sight size 17 X 13 inches Emigrating to Boston in 1913 from Poland with his Russian-Jewis...
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
French School, Floral Still Life Oil Painting, Flowers in a White Vase
By Charles Badoisel
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
An original French Expressionist floral still life oil painting on linen from 1967 by Charles Badoisel (1925–2009), flowers in a white vase, signed and dated by the artist at the low...
Canvas, Linen, Paint, Oil
$272Sale Price|20% Off
20th Paris School Collage Cutout Artwork Wonderful Interior Design options!
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"Collage" by Bernard Herzog (French, b.1935) signed lower corner signed and stamped verso with catalogue number photo collage cut outs on paper, unframed overall paper: 25.5 x 20 in...
Photographic Film, Magazine Paper
$1,771Sale Price|20% Off
Coastal view
Located in Genève, GE
Work on canvas Gray wooden frame 64.5 x 114.5 x 4 cm
Oil
The Severn Vale, Original, Landscape, Expressionist
Located in Deddington, GB
The Severn Vale is an Original Painting by Eleanor Woolley This miniature painting shows the vast Severn vale looking out from Edge near Stroud. The little patchwork fields of pink a...
Oil, Board
Still-life with lilac
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I sought to capture the delicate dance of light and shadow, the gentle caress of the blossoms, and the tranquility that comes from nature's beauty. As I chose my palet...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
$2,100Sale Price|40% Off
Vibrant Orange and Red "Pant" Abstract by Joy W.
Located in Soquel, CA
Dynamic, heavy impasto abstract expressionist garden scene by Joy W. (American, 20th Century). Titled "Pant" and dated "Summer 2003" on verso. Signed indistinctly on verso, "Joy W". ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,500
The Language of the Flowers protagonist feminine archetypes Figurative Flowers
Located in Houston, TX
Just Reduced Oil on Panel Artist Jeanie Tomanek draws upon themes that first developed in her poetry; exploring various feminine archetypes from myths, folk-tales, fairy tales and he...
Oil
Collage, interior design graphics
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this artwork, I explored the juxtaposition of the vintage and modern, the real and the imagined. Using collage materials juxtaposed with delicate pencil and bold ink, I s...
Mixed Media, Cardboard, Handmade Paper, Felt Pen, Color Pencil, Paper, M...
$1,900
"Mexican Countryside Landscape Scene with Trees on Hills" Expressionistic Style
Located in New York, NY
A strong modernist oil painting depicted in 1963 by Russian painter Michael Baxte. Mostly known for his abstracted figures on canvas or street scenes, this piece is a wonderful repre...
Oil, Masonite
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
Gouache Painting Jules Pascin Hand Signed Woman in Boudoir German Expressionism
By Jules Pascin
Located in Surfside, FL
Genre: German Expressionist Subject: Woman Medium: gouache paint Surface: Paper board This is hand signed lower right. Framed it measures 17.25 X 15.5, sheet 12 X 10 This came from ...
Paper, Gouache, Cardboard
The world belongs to you!
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've captured the serene moment of a woman caressed by the gentle hues of a sunset at the coast. Through the blend of realism and impressionism in oils, I sought to...
Canvas, Oil
Titulado "Músicos" - Óleo sobre tela - Firmado y enmarcado
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Firmado en la parte trasera Se presenta enmarcada la obra El estado es bueno Medidas de la obra: 73 cm. De altura x 60 cm. De ancho Medidas del marco: 78 cm. De altura x 65 cm. D...
Oil
$468Sale Price|20% Off
Moonlight night
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I've sought to capture the tranquil yet powerful essence of a serene night. The oil paints allowed me to layer emotions with every stroke, imbuing the scene with a sen...
Canvas, Oil
Still life with Dasies. Oil on canvas. 80x70.5 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Professional painter from Latvia in Soviet period
Plywood, Oil
$818
Exploring Every Path 4 Magdalena Morey, Original Contemporary Impressionist Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Magdalena Morey Exploring Every Path 4 Original Cubist Inspired Landscape Painting Mixed Media on Canvas Canvas Size: H 30cm x W 30cm x D 3.5cm Sold Unframed (Please note that in sit...
Paper, Pastel, Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor
Looking Up
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original oil on canvas painting on panel by American contemporary artist Mark Lavatelli from the artist's most recent series. This painting comes housed in an artist made natural...
Encaustic, Oil, Panel
Bouquet of Roses
Located in New York, NY
A very rare composition by the artist Jean-Pierre Cassigneul, the woman holds a beautiful Bouquet of Roses by the artist, she is wearing a chapeau in front of a painting showing th...
Oil
Haven
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original oil on canvas diptych by American contemporary artist Mark Lavatelli created in 1996. 72" X 122"
Canvas, Oil