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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
Early autumn mood. Cardboard, oil, 24x32 cm
Early autumn mood. Cardboard, oil, 24x32 cm

Early autumn mood. Cardboard, oil, 24x32 cm

By Edgars Vinters

Located in Riga, LV

Early autumn mood. 1990. Cardboard, oil, 24x32 cm This painting depicts an early autumn landscape with lively, textured brushstrokes that capture the transition between summer and f...

Category

1990s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Ship in the fog, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Ship in the fog, Painting, Oil on Canvas

By MARIUSZ MAKULA

Located in Yardley, PA

Original oil on canvas on wooden stretchers, signed on the front. Certificate of authenticity included. :: Painting :: Expressionism :: This piece comes with an official certificate ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

"This is Not a Tree, " Mixed Media on Canvas, 2022
"This is Not a Tree, " Mixed Media on Canvas, 2022

"This is Not a Tree, " Mixed Media on Canvas, 2022

By Bruno Surdo

Located in Chicago, IL

Chicago-based fine art painter Bruno A. Surdo is classically trained in drawing and oil painting in the tradition of Renaissance masters. With strong command of the human form, Surdo...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Acrylic

Setting Sun, Original Painting
Setting Sun, Original Painting

Setting Sun, Original Painting

By Diana Elena Chelaru

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
In awe of the images from the James Webb Telescope, artist Diana Elena Chelaru creates a series inspired by the depths of the universe. The mystery and vibran...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By LE ANH TUAN

Located in Yardley, PA

In this vibrant expression of nature's beauty, I've melded expressionism and impressionism with semi-abstract forms, using acrylics to celebrate life's invigorating essence. My brush...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Les Non-Dits (The Unsaid) 1, - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait
Les Non-Dits (The Unsaid) 1, - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait

Les Non-Dits (The Unsaid) 1, - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait

By Faith Gbadero

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

From The Things We Don’t Say Out Loud Series Men deserve flowers, too not just after the struggle but in the middle of it while becoming is still happening There are parts of us we l...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas, Acrylic

Village of Iseh, Bali (1948)
Village of Iseh, Bali (1948)

Village of Iseh, Bali (1948)

By Theo Meier

Located in Amsterdam, NL

Theo Meier (1908-1982) View of the Village of Iseh, painted from the house of Theo Signed and dated 48 Theo Meier lower left Oil on canvas, 68.5 x 50 cm In original frame carved by the artist. Note: Theo Meier arrived in Bali in 1936 with the intention of going on to Tahiti where he had been before. However Bali turned out to be the paradise he had been searching for in his dreams and he had no desire any more to move elsewhere. Bali at that time was still a very traditional place where society lived according to an acient religious system and in a luscious tropical setting the modern world was ignored. Here he met Walter Spies...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Rosewood, Oil

Les Jockeys - Expressionist Animal and Figurative Painting by Gen Paul
Les Jockeys - Expressionist Animal and Figurative Painting by Gen Paul

Les Jockeys - Expressionist Animal and Figurative Painting by Gen Paul

By Gen Paul

Located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire

Signed expressionist oil, gouache and watercolour on paper figures and animals in landscape circa 1950 by French painter and engraver Gen Paul. This charming work depicts jockeys on ...

Category

1950s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Paper, Watercolor, Gouache

'Pompeii' original signed painting circa 2005.
'Pompeii' original signed painting circa 2005.

'Pompeii' original signed painting circa 2005.

By Andy Gradwell

Located in Frome, Somerset

'Pompeii', a study plein air. signed original work 2005. watercolor on paper 45cm x 55cm. Painted wood glazed frame 72cmx87cm Gradwell focuses on been in the space and time and ma...

Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

Jerusalem Old City Landscape, Expressionist Judaica Israeli Painting II
Jerusalem Old City Landscape, Expressionist Judaica Israeli Painting II

Jerusalem Old City Landscape, Expressionist Judaica Israeli Painting II

By Andre Elbaz

Located in Surfside, FL

In this painting the artist uses gestural brushstrokes, which causes distortion and exaggeration for emotional effect. Andre Elbaz uses as his subject figures walking in old city Jer...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Snowy roofs. Oil on canvas, 54 x 73, 5 cm
Snowy roofs. Oil on canvas, 54 x 73, 5 cm

Snowy roofs. Oil on canvas, 54 x 73, 5 cm

By Aleksandr Rodin

Located in Riga, LV

Snowy roofs. Oil on canvas, 54x73,5 cm Aleksandr Rodin (1922-2001) Painter Born in a family of farmers. Wife Rasma Lace - art scholar. Studied at the Stalingrad School of Art, Sarat...

Category

1980s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Even in Pain - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern, Love
Even in Pain - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern, Love

Even in Pain - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern, Love

By Awofadeju Solomon

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Set in a small, resilient village on September 1, 2022, ADEROGBA, a young artist, loses his eyesight due to a sudden illness. With a chain on his hands symbolizing pain. Devastated b...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Oil

Still life with flowers and apple. Oil on paper, 39. 5 x 30 cm
Still life with flowers and apple. Oil on paper, 39. 5 x 30 cm

Still life with flowers and apple. Oil on paper, 39. 5 x 30 cm

By Victor Karnauh

Located in Riga, LV

Still life with flowers and apple. Oil on paper, 39. 5 x 30 cm Victor Karnauh (1950, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR – 2012, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine) – a painter, a monu...

Category

1990s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil

Fruit still life., Painting, Oil on Canvas
Fruit still life., Painting, Oil on Canvas

Fruit still life., Painting, Oil on Canvas

By Iryna Kastsova

Located in Yardley, PA

Fruit still life. Teapot, bottle of wine, glasses, fruits in a vase on a bright abstract background. The painting was painted expressively with a spatula. Modern. Expressionism. Par...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Blooming Love Story, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Blooming Love Story, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By Elisa Costa

Located in Yardley, PA

My work talks about memories and dialogues with various fabrics, laces, colours and textures. The process of transforming different materials into unique pieces inspires me. They ca...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Spring poppies 50X50
Spring poppies 50X50

Spring poppies 50X50

By Elena Lukina

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...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Odalisque yellow" Oil , cm. 40 x 50 1937  free shipping
"Odalisque yellow" Oil , cm. 40 x 50 1937  free shipping

"Odalisque yellow" Oil , cm. 40 x 50 1937 free shipping

By Giulio da Milano

Located in Torino, IT

Odalisque ,yellow,orange, orient Giulio DA MILANO (Nizza, 1895 - Torino, 1990) Giulio Da Milano was a Giacomo Grosso's disciple and he was very close to the artists that used to patronize La Coupole de Montparnasse (from Kisling to Pascin, from Derain to Vlaminck). He is considered one of most representative exponents of the Turin’s artistic scene in the ‘30s-‘40s, close to the Gruppo dei Sei. His works can be found in the following museums: Turin, Modern Art Gallery...

Category

1930s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Colorful water lily, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Colorful water lily, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Colorful water lily, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By LE ANH TUAN

Located in Yardley, PA

In a fervent dance of color and texture, I've brought to life the serene beauty of nature's gentle floaters, the water lilies. Through energetic brush strokes in acrylics, my vision ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Still life with fruits. 2009, canvas, oil, 81x65 cm

Still life with fruits. 2009, canvas, oil, 81x65 cm

By Sergey Inkatov

Located in Riga, LV

Still life with fruits. 2009, canvas, oil, 81x65 cm Sergey Inkatov Was born: 13.09.1971 in Baku. Painter Sergey Inkatov belongs to young generation of artists of Estonia. He was b...

Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Duality, Original Painting
Duality, Original Painting

Duality, Original Painting

By Robert Hofherr

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The expressionist landscape painting depicts houses overlooking a pond in the northeastern United States. Inspired by the works of English painters Keith Vaugha...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Don Quixote

Don Quixote

By Bernard Lorjou

Located in New York, NY

Bernard Lorjou (1908-1985 Fr.) Don Quixote is from the Bull Fighter series from the period of 1960 and was in one collection till recently. In 1948, he sh...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Haydn Suite II, Painting, Acrylic on Paper
Haydn Suite II, Painting, Acrylic on Paper

Haydn Suite II, Painting, Acrylic on Paper

By Karin Goeppert

Located in Yardley, PA

A floral painting on aged reclaimed yellowed music paper. This work needs to be framed. The sheet is about 30 x 23 cm / 12 x 9 in :: Painting :: Expressionism :: This piece com...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Paul Manes - Palaz of the Hoon, Painting 2008

Paul Manes - Palaz of the Hoon, Painting 2008

By Paul Manes

Located in Greenwich, CT

Paul Manes was born May 4, 1948, in Austin, Texas. He began his professional career in New York City in the early 1980s. His art has been widely exhibited in America and Europe and h...

Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint, Oil

People Watching, Painting, Oil on Paper
People Watching, Painting, Oil on Paper

People Watching, Painting, Oil on Paper

By Debbie Pacheco

Located in Yardley, PA

Taking a moment to notice the people around you can make a difference in your day. It takes your eyes off your circumstances to look and wonder about the stories and lives of those a...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Woman Reading in an Interior, Expressionist Oil Painting
Woman Reading in an Interior, Expressionist Oil Painting

Woman Reading in an Interior, Expressionist Oil Painting

Located in Genève, GE

Dimensions with frame: 46,5 x 41,5 x 5,5cm. Signed and dated "Eloise 68" along the right edge. This expressive portrait depicts a seated woman captured within a domestic interior, h...

Category

1960s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Between Where I Stand and Where I’m Going - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait

Between Where I Stand and Where I’m Going - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait

By Emmanuel Ojebola

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

Trees landscape, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Trees landscape, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Trees landscape, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By LE ANH TUAN

Located in Yardley, PA

In this piece, I embraced nature's renewal, channeling the vibrant vitality of spring through my brush. Employing acrylics, I layered hues and textures to convey the blossoming e...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Come away with me, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Come away with me, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Come away with me, Painting, Oil on Canvas

By Julia Borg

Located in Yardley, PA

Pure beauty lies in harmony, which expresses individuality. Each flower is beautiful, each is endowed with its own uniqueness. A person is able not only to notice and analyze the bea...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

2 Limit of Visibility Venice Biennale 2026 Project
2 Limit of Visibility Venice Biennale 2026 Project

2 Limit of Visibility Venice Biennale 2026 Project

By Elena Lukina

Located in Zofingen, AG

THE PROJECT: INDEPENDENT PAVILION VENICE 2026 This work is a cornerstone of the "In Minor Keys: The Turquoise Silence" series — a large-scale artistic manifesto created specifically ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Linen, Oil

Sunny day. 1994, oil on canvas and cardboard, 50x70 cm
Sunny day. 1994, oil on canvas and cardboard, 50x70 cm

Sunny day. 1994, oil on canvas and cardboard, 50x70 cm

By Valdis Bush

Located in Riga, LV

Sunny day. 1994, oil on canvas and cardboard, 50x70 cm Bright, colorful landscape with trees Valdis Bush (1924-2014) studied at the Art academy of Latvia (1945 – 1950), his favorit...

Category

1990s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By LE ANH TUAN

Located in Yardley, PA

In this vibrant expression of nature's beauty, I've melded expressionism and impressionism with semi-abstract forms, using acrylics to celebrate life's invigorating essence. My brush...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By LE ANH TUAN

Located in Yardley, PA

In this vibrant expression of nature's beauty, I've melded expressionism and impressionism with semi-abstract forms, using acrylics to celebrate life's invigorating essence. My bru...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Boy Eating Watermelon, Expressionist Oil Painting, Signed, 1960s
Boy Eating Watermelon, Expressionist Oil Painting, Signed, 1960s

Boy Eating Watermelon, Expressionist Oil Painting, Signed, 1960s

By Philip Evergood

Located in Miami, FL

The work looks much better in person with snappy bright colors that form a complex abstract composition of interconnected shapes. Hand-signed by artist, sticker label, The Work is Signed lower left - Provenance: Forum Gallery, New York - Label on verso Swann Gallery...

Category

1960s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Heavenly Guitar",  35x29",  Acrylic on canvas
"Heavenly Guitar",  35x29",  Acrylic on canvas

"Heavenly Guitar", 35x29", Acrylic on canvas

By Kim Simmonds

Located in Southampton, NY

Sad news of the recent passing of this great artist, guitarist, Rock and Blues Legend and founding member of Savoy Brown. Kim was a long-time friend who will be missed by fans and a...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Emile Albert Gruppe Bass Rocks 36x30
Emile Albert Gruppe Bass Rocks 36x30

Emile Albert Gruppe Bass Rocks 36x30

By Emile Albert Gruppe

Located in Dallas, TX

Emile Albert Gruppe (American, 1896-1978) Bass Rock, 1967 Oil on canvas 30 x 36 inches (76.2 x 91.4 cm) Signed lower right: Emile A. Gruppe Signed, dated, and titled on the stretcher...

Category

1960s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Prowl" Red Abstract Figurative Landscape Signed P. Gonzalez
"Prowl" Red Abstract Figurative Landscape Signed P. Gonzalez

"Prowl" Red Abstract Figurative Landscape Signed P. Gonzalez

Located in Houston, TX

Unique red landscape of a man standing under a tree with black lightening overhead. Done in an expressionist style similar to that of Edvard Munch. Signed, titled, and dated by possi...

Category

1980s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Leading a horse, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Leading a horse, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Leading a horse, Painting, Oil on Canvas

By Elena Sokolova

Located in Yardley, PA

The painting portrays a tranquil scene of a woman leading a horse through shallow water. it carries a sense of tranquility, capturing a clear, sunny day with the light blue color of ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

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.