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.
"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...
Acrylic
$16,000
"Beginning of Sunset" - Textural Oil Landscape - Vibrant Earth and Pastel Tones
Located in Carmel, CA
Hayssam Masri (Lebanese, Italian, born 1965) "Beginning of Sunset" 2020 Oil paint on canvas, stretcher bars The artist signed the bottom right corner of the painting. “Beginning of ...
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
$9,200Sale Price|23% Off
"Florence in the winter" oil on canvas by Masri
Located in Carmel, CA
Masri is a passionate Italian, US-based artist whose work has been exhibited in USA, the UK, Germany, Lebanon, Italy and Norway. His work is varied and known especially in Europe, an...
Canvas, Oil
Bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
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...
Acrylic
$8,615Sale Price|20% Off
Woman portrait. 1955, oil on canvas, 50.5 x 40.6 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Woman portrait. 1955, oil on canvas, 50.5 x 40.6 cm Provenance Bonhams
Canvas, Oil
Fried fishes, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Fried fishes , well done )) :: Painting :: Expressionism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: Yes :: Signed: Yes ::...
Oil
Still life with Dasies. Oil on canvas. 80x70.5 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Professional painter from Latvia in Soviet period
Plywood, Oil
Monet's garden, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
The view is reminiscent of Monet's garden in Giverny in late summer. Perspective leads the viewer into the depths of the landscape where light forms the focal point of the compositio...
Acrylic
"Flatirons" (2025), Impressionist Rocky Mountain Landscape, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Painted plein air in Boulder, Colorado. Kirsten Savage is one of Colorado’s top representational artists. As an avid world traveler and experienced mountaineer, Kirsten spends her t...
Oil, Panel
Wonderland small scale seated woman with large bouquet soft green colors
Located in Brooklyn, NY
ABOUT Stephen Basso Stephen Basso's highly original pastels and oil paintings are romantic, yet thought provoking fantasies. His whimsical works are alive with boundless imaginat...
Canvas, Oil
$4,300
"4 Koi 20" Expressionist Bright Red, White and Orange Koi in Light Filled Water
By Linda Holt
Located in Wellesley, MA
"4 Koi 20," 2020, Oil on Canvas, 24 x 24 Inches is a complex work of koi fish swimming underwater filled with light and brilliant color painted in a lush and fluid style bordering on...
Oil
$3,446Sale Price|20% Off
Still life with blue drapery and fruits. 1980, oil on cardboard, 100x81 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Still life with blue drapery and fruits. 1980, oil on cardboard, 100x81 cm Valdis Bush (1924-2014) studied at the Art academy of Latvia (1945 – 1950), h...
Oil, Cardboard
Research & Development Figural 3 & 4
By Bruce Adams
Located in Buffalo, NY
A pair of paintings in one singular frame presentation by American contemporary artist Bruce Adams Art is the R&D for culture. Artists Conduct the R&D for society. In the late tw...
Acrylic, Canvas
$842Sale Price|20% Off
Still life with flowers. 1986. Paper, watercolor, 61.5x86 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Still life with flowers. 1986. Paper, watercolor, 61.5x86 cm Dzidra Bauma (1930) Dzidra Bauma works in watercolor technique. She paint figural compositi...
Paper, Watercolor
Sharron Evans Gold Leaf Horse Contemporary Expressionist Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
A striking and highly collectible contemporary expressionist painting by Sharron Evans, this luminous equine composition combines oil painting with genuine gold leaf to create a powe...
Gold Leaf
Expressionist Oil Painting Paris Scene View Architectural Visionism Olivier Foss
By Oliver Foss
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed upper right Oil painting on canvas, Unframed "Street Scene" by Olivier B. Foss is an iconic artwork representational of mid-century French Expressionist painting. The ...
Canvas, Oil
$450
One More Shot 4 - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative, Sport, Football, Green
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 Eli...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$4,545
Impasto Expressionist Portrait of a Woman in Yellow and Blue, Oil on Canvas
Located in NANTES, FR
Expressionist portrait of a woman executed in thick impasto, with radiant colors and striking contrasts between yellow, blue, and bold black outlines. Oil on canvas dated 1997 by Men...
Oil
$2,560Sale Price|20% Off
Belgian Barn by the River - Expressionist Landscape Original Oil on Canvas
By Gloria Takla
Located in Soquel, CA
Belgian Barn by the River - Expressionist Landscape in Oil on Canvas Vibrant depiction of barn by a river by Gloria Takla (American/German, b. 1940). A b...
Canvas, Oil
Blossoming Benevolence, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By Amanda Dagg
Located in Yardley, PA
"Blossoming Benevolence" is a captivating 20x20 inch acrylic on canvas painting that exudes warmth and vibrancy. The artwork features a thick, textured surface that adds depth and di...
Acrylic
Shuk Machane Yehuda Jerusalem Market Israeli Oil Painting
Located in Surfside, FL
similar in style to David Azuz a new Expressionist Israeli market scene possibly by Roz Rice.
Canvas, Oil
$4,186
Expressionist Figurative Portrait, Oil on Canvas, by a School of Paris Artist
Located in NANTES, FR
This work by Menachem Gueffen presents a very free portrait of a woman, halfway between figuration and expressionism. This painting is highly instinctive, the bold black outlines st...
Oil
$450
Beyond The Pretty Faces 1 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women
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 Ola...
Canvas, Acrylic
SAKURA - Cherry blossom, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By Hoang Phuong
Located in Yardley, PA
Cherry blossoms are very loved by the Japanese people, so in fact they exist as a symbol and the national flower of Japan. For the Japanese, Sakura zensen symbolizes beauty, fragilit...
Acrylic
$450
Beyond The Pretty Faces 9 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women
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 Ola...
Canvas, Acrylic
The Gladiator - Large format expressionist, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
The Gladiator is a large-format expressionist painting of a gladiator in vibrant ocher yellow. Gladiator was and still is one of my all-time best favourite movies. Even up to this t...
Acrylic
$2,550
Benavente Solis Vertical. Big. green. Bull- original expressionist acrylic
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Bull- original expressionist acrylic painting During its first exhibition in Paris, the French press catalogs it like "The Catalan Sorolla". Honorary Member of the MECOART (Mediter...
Wood, Acrylic
Behind a Woman's Skirt: Expressionist Seascape, Oil on Wood, 2010+
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original oil on wood panel expressionist seascape by Darlene Katz. Its dimensions are 24"x18". It is unframed. A certifi...
Oil
$2,640Sale Price|20% Off
Surf N' Turf mermaid mythic figures interior food romantic undertones
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oil on canvas heavy duty stretcher bars .Framing recommended but not wit. Signed and dated on reverse. Part of an ongoing series of mermaids by the artist.
Canvas, Oil
Woven Identities 5 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Woven Identities is a body of work that explores the intersection of indigenous African heritage and modern global culture. In these paintings, I focus on hairstyle, tribal marks, dr...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Resting, Expressionist Portrait of Young Man by Philadelphia Artist
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Resting" is an interior portrait of a young man resting on a sofa. This work was painted by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 24" x 32" oil on board painti...
Oil, Board
$18,000
Girl Thinking, Expressionist Portrait of Young Woman by Philadelphia Artist
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Girl Thinking" is a painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 40" x 30" oil on board portrait of a young woman is painted in a vibrant color palette. The painting is framed in a new, black wood frame and signed "B Harmon" on verso. Figurative expressionism in the style of Alice Neel. Bernard Harmon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935. Harmon was primarily a portrait painter and a well loved teacher in the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Philadelphia Museum School and Temples Tyler School of Art, Harmon traveled extensively in Europe and South America. Beloved by many, Harmon taught in the Philadelphia School District for 32 of his 54 years of life. Beginning his career as an art teacher at West Philadelphia High School, in the early 1960s he became one of the district's artists in residence, traveling from school to school to demonstrate for students how an artist works. Returning to the classroom, Harmon joined the art department at Central High School where he taught for 14 years and became an innovator in art curriculum, developing a program offering advanced placement art classes to gifted students. In his final years Harmon became a supervisor, mentoring teachers and overseeing programs in the Philadelphia school systems District #1. During his short life Harmon taught collage preparatory art classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, summer classes at the University of the Arts, and a Saturday program for gifted children at Drexel University. Among Harmon's portraits were commissioned by Philadelphia Jazz organist Jimmy Smith and Mayor Richardson Dilworth. Bernard Harmon was active in promoting African American Artist throughout his life time. He organized many early shows such as the "Afro American Artists 1800 - 1969" at the Museum of the Philadelphia Civic Center in 1969. He was considered a Renaissance man by friends and colleagues for his interests not only in art but music and theater as well. He was familiar and friends with many other African American artists such as Doc Thrash, Selma Burke...
Oil, Board
Sunflower -21st Century Contemporary Nature, Floral, Landscape, Interior
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 Eli...
Canvas, Acrylic
Kinetic Motion: 18x24cm Impasto Oil on Canvas Panel (2024)
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Kinetic Motion" is a vibrant 2024 original oil study from the prestigious series Gravity of Light: Marine Chronicles. Created as an intimate 18x24 cm work on professional canvas pan...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$450
Carnation Flowers -21st Century Contemporary Nature, Floral, Landscape, Interior
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 Eli...
Canvas, Acrylic
4 Frozen Echo Venice Biennale 2026 Project
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 ...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
6 Vulnerable Beauty Venice Biennale 2026 Project
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 ...
Canvas, Oil, Linen
7 Shadow of Ancient Stone Venice Biennale 2026 Project
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 ...
Canvas, Oil
8 Inner Garden
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 ...
Canvas, Oil, Linen
9 Frequency 432 Venice Biennale 2026 Project
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...
Canvas, Oil
Contemporary figurative dog's portrait acrylic painting on canvas "Stylish pup"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Stylish Pup” is a contemporary acrylic dog painting by French artist Natalya Mougenot, part of her expressive ongoing series devoted to canine personalities. With her distinctive p...
Canvas, Linen, Acrylic
$1,416Sale Price|20% Off
Cherries bloom. 2010, acrylic on paper, 49x70 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Cherries bloom. 2010, acrylic on paper, 49x70 cm Dzidra Bauma (1930) Dzidra Bauma works in watercolor technique. She paint figural compositions, portraits, landscapes, flowers and ...
Paper, Acrylic
Truro Beach, colorful abstract female sun bather
By Tom Bennett
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oil painting on board of expressionist figure in repose. Expressive, energetic brush strokes, colorful palette.
Oil, Board
L'église Saint Séverin, Paris
Located in Atlanta, GA
Student at the Jules Marinist Christmas, Edme Emile Laborne was a refined painter of cityscapes and landscapes. Paris, the Loire Valley, southern Spain...
Oil
Les Jardin Du Giverny
By Frederick William MacMonnies
Located in Sheffield, MA
Frederick William MacMonnies American, 1863-1937 Les Jardin Du Giverny Oil on Canvas 21 by 25 in, w/ frame 27 ⅞ by 31 ⅞ in A sculptor of classical figures, American-born Frederick ...
Oil
Codorniu Majorca expressionist acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
original expressionist acrylic painting. frame Painter and draftsman born in Ciutat de Mallorca in 1943. In 1959 moved his address to Barcelona. He was a student of the School of A...
Canvas, Oil
$650
Original Still Life Of Amaryllis Flower Oil Painting c. 1930s by Georg Gunther
Located in Cirencester, GB
ARTIST: Georg Gunther (1886-1968) German TITLE: "Still Life Of Amaryllis Lilly In a Terracotta Vase" SIGNED: lower right MEDIUM: oil on canvas SIZE: 62cm x 56cm inclusive of fram...
Oil
Earth Angel, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By Dara Daniel
Located in Yardley, PA
My angel painting is a 40 by 30-inch, gallery-wrapped Acrylic on Canvas and a personal vision from my imagination. It depicts what I feel an angel to be, mystical and vaguely present...
Acrylic
$3,350
Let The Poor Breathe -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Abstraction, Africa
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 Ola...
Canvas, Acrylic
Contemporary figurative dog's portrait acrylic painting on canvas "Chic canine"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Chic Canine” is a contemporary acrylic dog painting by French artist Natalya Mougenot, part of her expressive ongoing series dedicated to dogs. With her distinctive painterly langu...
Canvas, Linen, Acrylic
$450
Beyond The Pretty Faces 7 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women
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 Ola...
Canvas, Acrylic
What Lies Ahead, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Heading into the crowd we see what lies ahead and where the crowd in front of us has been. It's a memory, a blur for them for us there is time to take notice, see things clearly, not...
Oil
$1,276Sale Price|20% Off
Large 20th Century French Expressionist Signed Oil View over Paris River Seine
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Bridges over the River Seine French Expressionist artist, 20th century indistinctly signed/ titled verso oil on board, framed framed: 22 x 26 ...
Oil
$2,700Sale Price|20% Off
Musical Figurative Abstract
Located in Soquel, CA
Bold, bright and earthy colors all play a role in this figurative abstract by Michael William Eggleston (American, 20th c.). Signed with monogram and dated "MWE '01" lower right. Unframed. Image, 42"H x 42"W. A musician is serenading a woman in her bath with the San Francisco cityscape...
Canvas, Oil
I have no time, Painting, Oil on Canvas
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 ...
Oil
Water lilies shine on the surface of the lake, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
, , , blossom, , g,, flower, lotus flowers Flowers in the morning dew The most beautiful flowers are in the early morning. When the dawn just dawned, the petals began to g...
Acrylic
Côte d’Azur
Located in Sheffield, MA
Michel Dureuil French, born 1929 Côte d’Azur Oil on Canvas 15 by 18 ¼ in, w/ frame 22 ¾ by 25 ¾ in Signed lower right Michel Dureuil was born in Paris...
Oil
French Contemporary Art by Sandra Detourbet - Le Tourmoi
Located in Paris, IDF
Ink on canvas & handmade paper Sandra Detourbet is a French artist born in 1967 who works & lives in Ivry-sur-Seine, near Paris. She is graduated in 1997 from ENSAD in Paris, Art-Sp...
Canvas, Ink, Handmade Paper
$450
Blue Testament 3 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern Africa
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 Dan...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
"Yellow sunset" seascape in oil of Volskya Lilyа
Located in Zofingen, AG
Yellow sunset" seascape in oil of Volsky Lily. Inspiring unforgettable view of the sea. He has thousands of them.And everyone is special. Everyone is unique. The painting is painted ...
Canvas, Oil