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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
Blue Testament 2 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern Africa

Blue Testament 2 -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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Self Portrait -21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Africa, People

Self Portrait -21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Africa, 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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Coffee, Mixed Media

Weight of We - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Whites, Black
Weight of We - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Whites, Black

Weight of We - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Whites, Black

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Ojú lárí, ọ̀rẹ́ ǹ dénú, this Yoruba proverb, which translates to "We only see faces, but true friendship is from within," emphasizes that real connection lies beneath the surface; it...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Cherry Blossom Season, Still-Life Oil Painting, 2021

Cherry Blossom Season, Still-Life Oil Painting, 2021

By Lynne Friedman

Located in Boston, MA

Artist Commentary: I planted a cherry tree to remind me of the one I had outside my window as a child. It was a Japanese Keanza and very beautiful. About the artist: Lynne's work ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Drifting Petals, Original Painting
Drifting Petals, Original Painting

Drifting Petals, Original Painting

By Diana Elena Chelaru

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A single orchid blooms vibrantly and full of energy, as if reaching toward something unseen. The surrounding movement echoes its strength, turning growth into a...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

BLUE
BLUE

BLUE

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this vibrant canvas, I've melded the fluid grace of abstract art with the emotive brush strokes of impressionism and the bold visual appeal of pop art. I used acrylic and oil to w...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

1970’s Huge French Expressionist Green Landscape Avenue of Trees, signed oil
1970’s Huge French Expressionist Green Landscape Avenue of Trees, signed oil

1970’s Huge French Expressionist Green Landscape Avenue of Trees, signed oil

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

The Avenue of Trees French Expressionist School, signed front and back Dated 1974 oil on canvas, framed framed: 37 x 44 inches canvas: 32 x 39 inches private collection, France the p...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Young Girl with Baby Oil Painting 1970s Spanish Impressionist Portrait Emotional
Young Girl with Baby Oil Painting 1970s Spanish Impressionist Portrait Emotional

Young Girl with Baby Oil Painting 1970s Spanish Impressionist Portrait Emotional

By Amadeo Freixas Vivo

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Young Girl with Baby Oil Painting 1970s Spanish Impressionist Portrait Emotional Figurative Artwork Medium: Oil on board Period: 1970–1979 Date: circa 1975 Condition: Good condition consistent with age Dimensions: Height: 46 cm (18.12 in) Width: 38 cm (14.97 in) Frame: Unframed Origin: Spain A tender and emotionally engaging oil painting depicting a young girl holding a baby, executed in Spain circa 1975. Rather than a traditional maternal scene, the composition captures a more unusual and compelling dynamic: a child caring for another child. This subtle shift introduces a layer of emotional complexity, where innocence and responsibility coexist. The girl’s expressive gaze becomes the central anchor of the composition, conveying a quiet intensity that draws the viewer in. The artist employs loose yet confident brushwork, with an earthy palette enriched by soft pink tones that enhance the warmth of the scene. This type of subject—intimate, psychological, and slightly unconventional—offers collectors something beyond decorative appeal: a narrative moment suspended in time. Its small scale further increases its charm and versatility, making it ideal for refined interiors or curated gallery walls. A distinctive example of late 20th-century Spanish figurative impressionism, with strong emotional resonance. Amadeo Freixas Vivo (1912–2004) was a Spanish painter known for his figurative and impressionist works. Throughout his career, he developed a personal style focused on intimate scenes and expressive portraiture, often exploring themes of everyday life and human emotion. girl with baby painting, figurative oil painting, spanish painting 1970s, impressionist portrait, child portrait painting...

Category

1970s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Board, Oil

Impasto Poppies, Elena Lukina, Original Large Impasto Oil Painting
Impasto Poppies, Elena Lukina, Original Large Impasto Oil Painting

Impasto Poppies, Elena Lukina, Original Large Impasto Oil Painting

Located in Zofingen, AG

"Impasto Poppies" captures the essence of a dream inspired by the sun-kissed hills of Tuscany. It's a vibrant ode to idyllic summer days, where soft horizons meet the bold energy of ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"White dream"
"White dream"

"White dream"

Located in Edinburgh, GB

As a child, I really loved dogs. I liked that I could play with them, stroke them, hug them.. I also loved lying on the grass and watching the birds fly. But I was very sorry that I ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Late Night at the Studio", Contemporary, Factory Interior, Blue, Oil Painting
"Late Night at the Studio", Contemporary, Factory Interior, Blue, Oil Painting

"Late Night at the Studio", Contemporary, Factory Interior, Blue, Oil Painting

By Catherine Picard-Gibbs

Located in Franklin, MA

“Late Night at The Studio” by Catherine Picard-Gibbs is an Expressionist interior factory scene in a palette of teal-blue and yellow. This evocative 18 x 24 inch oil on panel painting focuses on light pouring out from the haunting depths of an empty hallway. This textural artwork is framed in a silver crackle floater frame with a black interior, making the framed size 19 x 25 x 1.5 inches. Catherine Picard-Gibbs paints with bold brush strokes, using vibrant colors to show emotion and movement in landscapes and urban scenes. Her inspiration comes from the nuance and drama of her everyday world. Her evocative works have been featured throughout Massachusetts, in New York, and in the Midwest. Picard-Gibbs is represented by Fountain Street Gallery...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Serene Adagio Original Large Landscape Oil Painting on Italian canvas.
Serene Adagio Original Large Landscape Oil Painting on Italian canvas.

Serene Adagio Original Large Landscape Oil Painting on Italian canvas.

Located in Zofingen, AG

"Serene Adagio" is an original oil painting on canvas that captures a quiet moment. The interplay of light and shadow embraces the woman’s figure, evoking a calm, serene energy. This...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Vintage Mid Century Modern Original Still Life Oil Painting - Teapot and Fruits
Vintage Mid Century Modern Original Still Life Oil Painting - Teapot and Fruits

Vintage Mid Century Modern Original Still Life Oil Painting - Teapot and Fruits

Located in Bristol, GB

TEAPOT AND FRUITS Size: 39 x 49 cm (including frame) Oil on board A charming mid-century still life painting that celebrates the beauty of everyday objects through colour and form, ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

'Harbour Hands in Ostend' by Achille Van Sassenbrouck (Bruges 1886 – 1979 Ghent)
'Harbour Hands in Ostend' by Achille Van Sassenbrouck (Bruges 1886 – 1979 Ghent)

'Harbour Hands in Ostend' by Achille Van Sassenbrouck (Bruges 1886 – 1979 Ghent)

Located in Knokke, BE

Achille Van Sassenbrouck Bruges 1886 – 1979 Ghent
 Belgian Painter 'Harbor Hands' Signature: signed lower right 'Ach Van Sassenbrouck.'
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size...

Category

Early 20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Regarding the Sky, Oil Painting
Regarding the Sky, Oil Painting

Regarding the Sky, Oil Painting

By Ronda Waiksnis

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
This painting captures a tranquil scene where a body of water reflects the sky. The muted, distant horizon suggests an endless expanse, inviting contemplation...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Lofoton Morning, Norway
Lofoton Morning, Norway

Lofoton Morning, Norway

By Tom Irizarry Studio

Located in Booklyn, NY

Verified original work by Tom irizarry. Handmade oil paint made by artist, pigments on canvas, 16 x 20 inches. Morning view of Lofoton mountain range, Norway. 2024. 16 x 20 inches, o...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Pigment

Provencal Landscape Poppy Fields Original Oil Painting
Provencal Landscape Poppy Fields Original Oil Painting

Provencal Landscape Poppy Fields Original Oil Painting

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Stunning mid 20th century French Expressionist oil painting on canvas. The work depicts this gloriously vibrant and colourful landscape in Provence - we are told by the former owner it represents the Luberon Valley region in Provence, in the fields around Cucuron. We acquired the painting from a private collector in the heart of Provence who had owned the painting for many years. The work is unsigned but very, very close in every respect to the Corsican born artist PIERRE AMBROGIANI (1907-1985) and further research in this direction could be fruitful. Condition and Size: The painting is in good condition. The paint has begun to split in places as one would expect with such thickly applied oil paint. The canvas, unframed is 38cm x 55cm. Pierre Ambrogiani was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, although he was brought up in Marseille, where he continued to live and work for the rest of his life. He was an Expressionist painter of Provençal landscapes...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Cow Boy -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral, Mixed Media
Cow Boy -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral, Mixed Media

Cow Boy -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral, Mixed Media

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 Gob...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

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

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

Black is Beautiful
Black is Beautiful

Black is Beautiful

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

The central theme of "Black is Beautiful" revolves around the notion that true beauty transcends physical appearances and that baldness, especially in the context of African heritage...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Paysage en campagne

Paysage en campagne

Located in Atlanta, GA

Born August 4, 1945 in Chambéry. Apprenticeship in 1984 at the Etampes school founded and run by the painter Philipe Lejeune. -Price "Finez Planard" awarded by the Taylor Foundation...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Oil Painting Titled: Bacall  36 x 36
Oil Painting Titled: Bacall  36 x 36

Oil Painting Titled: Bacall 36 x 36

By Christina Major

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Custom framed Christina Major was born in Concord, New Hampshire in 1982. She has lived all over the world including Hawaii, France, New York and more currently Florida. Christina...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Artist Painting Still Life" Expressionistic Style Oil Painting on Canvas
"Artist Painting Still Life" Expressionistic Style Oil Painting on Canvas

"Artist Painting Still Life" Expressionistic Style Oil Painting on Canvas

By Michael Baxte

Located in New York, NY

A strong modernist oil painting depicted in the Mid Centruy by Russian painter Michael Baxte. Mostly known for his abstracted figures on canvas or street scenes, this piece is a wonderful representation of his interior scenes with expressive use of color, shape, and form. Later in his career, Baxte explores Expressionism, infusing both European and North American stylistic trends. This painting measures 32 x 25.5 inches Michael Posner Baxte was born in 1890 in the small town of Staroselje Belarus, Russia. For the first half of the 19th century, it was a center of the Chabad movement of Hasidic Jews, but this group was gone by the middle of the 19th century. By the time the Baxte family immigrated to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, the Jewish population numbered only on the hundreds. The native language of the Baxte family was Yiddish. It is likely that the death of Michael Baxte’s father triggered the family’s immigration. Three older brothers arrived in New York between 1903 and 1905. Michael and his mother, Rebecca, arrived in 1907. By 1910 Michael, his mother, and brother, Joseph, were living in New Orleans and may have spent some time on a Louisiana plantation...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

"Taos Sketch" - Expressionist Landscape and Female Figures, Oil Painting
"Taos Sketch" - Expressionist Landscape and Female Figures, Oil Painting

"Taos Sketch" - Expressionist Landscape and Female Figures, Oil Painting

By John Franklin

Located in Denver, CO

John Franklin was born on Christmas day, 1925 in North Platte, Nebraska. This piece depicts three women from Taos, New Mexico standing in content poses, holding jars and wearing int...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Eternal Payment in Fertile Land 1 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Apple
Eternal Payment in Fertile Land 1 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Apple

Eternal Payment in Fertile Land 1 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Apple

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Penuel Heber Ma...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Pencil

Purification in the Time of Jezebel -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Men
Purification in the Time of Jezebel -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Men

Purification in the Time of Jezebel -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Men

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Penuel Heber Ma...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Pencil

Bories-en-Provence Village Near Gordes, Large Oil on Canvas
Bories-en-Provence Village Near Gordes, Large Oil on Canvas

Bories-en-Provence Village Near Gordes, Large Oil on Canvas

Located in Saint Amans des cots, FR

Oil on canvas by Paul Clement (1906-), France, 1967. Bories-en-Provence near Gordes. Measurements : with frame: 106x87 cm - 41.7x34.25 inches, without frame: 100x81 cm - 39.4x31.9 in...

Category

1960s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Delicate wildflowers"diptych, landscape by Volskaya Liliya.
Delicate wildflowers"diptych, landscape by Volskaya Liliya.

Delicate wildflowers"diptych, landscape by Volskaya Liliya.

Located in Zofingen, AG

"Delicate wildflowers"diptych, landscape by Volskaya. Each of my paintings is not just canvas and paints. It is the energy that lives, breathes and interacts with a person. Before I ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

African Radiant: Celebration of Beauty and Joy
African Radiant: Celebration of Beauty and Joy

African Radiant: Celebration of Beauty and Joy

By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

The title of the painting, "African Radiant," captures the essence of the woman's beauty and spirit. She exudes a sense of joy and inner radiance that is infectious, and her confident gaze and proud stance suggest a deep sense of pride in her heritage and culture. Overall, "African Radiant: Celebration of Beauty and Joy" is a powerful celebration of the beauty and resilience of black African women. It invites viewers to revel in the richness and diversity of African culture and appreciate the strength and joy inherent in the African spirit. 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 Bakare Babatunde...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Fabric, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Golden Time. Large abstract Landscape Oil Painting on Italian canvas.
Golden Time. Large abstract Landscape Oil Painting on Italian canvas.

Golden Time. Large abstract Landscape Oil Painting on Italian canvas.

Located in Zofingen, AG

Experience the serene beauty of autumn with "Golden Time," a large abstract landscape oil painting. The artist masterfully blends soft impressionistic techniques with realistic detai...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Beautiful in my Skin - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Fashion
Beautiful in my Skin - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Fashion

Beautiful in my Skin - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Fashion

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 Gob...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Les Deux Soeurs

Les Deux Soeurs

By François LEGRAND

Located in Atlanta, GA

Born in 1951, François Legrand was introduced to painting as a teenager by Philippe Lejeune in Etampes. In 1973, he moved to Loiret. From 1974 to 197...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary 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.