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.
$5,000
Up Up and Away With Fido -21st Century, Expressionist Modern, Child, Balloon
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 (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
Bouquet of Roses Original impasto oil painting Large abstract Still-life
Located in Zofingen, AG
This original oil painting features a stylish still life of luxurious roses in a modern design. The vintage bouquet is rendered in soothing colors, creating a serene and nature-inspi...
Canvas, Oil
Blond in Mirror, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This work on canvas with acrylics. Represents the portrait of a young woman watching herself in the mirror and at the same time watching the viewer. Done using a certain range of war...
Acrylic
Chromatic Nomad, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A solitary rider stands against a vibrant, textile-inspired backdrop of bold geometric forms and saturated color. Rendered with raw, gestural lines, the figure ...
Oil
"Lemonade Afternoon" Modern Expressionist Figurative
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
"Lemonade Afternoon" is from Sandra Jones Campbell's recent Summer collection, a series that displays her unique vision of the world and is informed by her current social observatio...
Acrylic
Tranquil Day, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Vibrant autumn trees paint a distant forest in shades of red, orange, and yellow. Soft layers of beige and blue land stretches across the foreground. A pale sky...
Oil
Winter Solstice, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Winter Solstice is a large painting - ready to hang with a hook attached to the back of the canvas - of my take of winter's beauty. Warm and cool colors playing off each other. 80 x ...
Acrylic
Purity
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Purity" is a mesmerizing artwork that encapsulates the strength, grace, and inherent beauty of a black African woman. Through her direct gaze, the white dove, and the vibrant colors, the painting invites contemplation about the purity of the human spirit, the harmonious connection between humanity and nature, and the celebration of diversity and individuality. 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...
Canvas, Oil
View from a Window, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Three chairs occupy a sunlit room, with one propped in front of a window that opens onto a lush garden. Blue curtains, one with playful zigzag edges, hang again...
Acrylic
$106,000
Railroad Men's Wives - American Scene Painting - Social Realism
Located in Miami, FL
American Scene Painting - Social Realism. The present work is a Depression Era account of working-class men and women. Philip Howard Francis Dixon Evergood (born Howard Blashki; 190...
Oil
"Artist Painting Still Life" Expressionistic Style Oil Painting on Canvas
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...
Oil, Canvas
Autumn Color’s in Misty Land, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A stand of trees stretches across a landscape in warm, autumnal shades. Vertical strokes suggest tall trunks rising through the orange, yellow, and green foliag...
Oil
In the wildflowers Original impasto Miniature oil painting for living room
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In the Wildflowers" is an oil painting where the artist's passion meets serene natural beauty. This piece blends impressionism with realism, capturing a tender moment with soft colo...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
"Honey and tar" abstract interior painting by Volskya Lily.
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Honey and tar" abstract interior painting by Volskya Lilya. The size of the painting is 30x20cm, canvas on cardboard. The painting was made with the help of a structural paste of va...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
$5,500
Freedom Flight -21st Century, Expressionist Modern Painting of Child on Balloon
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 (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,250
Afro Crown 2 - 21st Century, Expressionist, Figurative Portrait, Human Hair
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide 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 Authent...
Canvas, Acrylic
The Trip -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Painting, Oil, Women, Vehicle
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"The Trip" conveys not only the physical journey of the woman on the scooter but also a metaphorical journey of self-discovery and adventure. The painting evokes a sense of wanderlus...
Canvas, Oil
Untitled Figures, by Maurice Golubov, Oil on Board Painting
By Maurice Golubov
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This work by Maurice Golubov, is an oil painting on board, and consists of a red, green, white, grey and brown color palette. This style of art is expressionist and figurative, with ...
Oil, Board
$717Sale Price|20% Off
Rouen Street Scene Thickly Painted 20th Century French Signed Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: French Expressionist School, indistinctly signed Title: Rouen street scene Medium: signed oil painting on canvas, unframed. Siz...
Oil, Canvas
$810
Olympic Palette on Cream, Vertical Painting, Simple Colorful Gestures on Beige
Located in Barcelona, ES
"Olympic Pattern on Cream" is an abstract painting diptych by Spanish artist Natalia Roman. It is a beautiful series of rhythmic brushstrokes combined with subtle tones and unique sh...
Acrylic, Paper
Victim (Meet James)
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 (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic, Oil
$1,580
Poppies and Wildflowers, Botanical Painting Triptych, Illustration Style Prairie
Located in Barcelona, ES
Poppies and Wildflowers unfolds as a lyrical triptych, where fluid brushwork and a vibrant yet balanced palette evoke the quiet vitality of spring. Red poppies emerge among delicate ...
Acrylic, Watercolor, Handmade Paper
$5,000
Silent Struggle -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, People, Expressionism
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, Coffee, Mixed Media
Benavente Solís Poppies Red Green Landscape original painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
landscape- original figuratif watercolor painting framed of the Spanish artist BENAVENTE SOLIS. Watercolor on paper. Perfect state . During its first exhibition in Paris, the Fren...
Watercolor
$9,750
"Wild and Beautiful II" - Colorful Impasto Abstract Floral Inspired Oil Painting
Located in Carmel, CA
Sveta Hessler (Russian, born 1973) "Wild and Beautiful II" 2025 Oil Paint, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the back of the painting. Sveta Hessler explodes the traditional ...
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
$2,650
In Between -21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait Painting, Oil, Women Art
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide 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 Authent...
Canvas, Oil
The Venetian Guest: Resonance in Minor Keys
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this seminal work, Elena Lukina explores the boundaries between civilization and the untamed. "The Venetian Guest" is a profound manifestation of the "Minor Key" — where beauty em...
Canvas, Oil
"Late Night at the Studio", Contemporary, Factory Interior, Blue, Oil Painting
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...
Oil, Board
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
"Lighthouse of Peggy's Cove" - Impasto Expressionist Coastal Landscape Painting
By Sandra Pratt
Located in Denver, CO
"Lighthouse of Peggy's Cove" is a beautiful original impasto oil painting, created on linen panel by American artist Sandra Pratt, which depicts a lighthouse on a rocky peninsula, st...
Oil, Board
Colourful Expressionist Oil on Canvas Market Scene, Mid-20th Century
Located in Cotignac, FR
Colourful Expressionist oil on canvas view of a market scene by A Monis. The painting is signed and dated bottom right and presented in a magnificent custom gilt wood frame. Provena...
Oil, Canvas
$3,850
She's Always Behind My Back -21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Love, Family
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The painting is about the human relationship between brothers and sisters, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. How they fought, stood, and supported each other with love, shari...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
'Portrait of a Man', by Jim Riley, Oil on Canvas Painting
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This 19.625" x 15.625" oil on canvas painting is by American artist, Jim Riley. The painting presents a frontal, half-length portrait of a figure with wavy brown hair and a calm, int...
Canvas, Oil
African Boy IV
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
African Boy is a series of paintings by talented artist Faith Gbadero. This series of Artworks capture the response and attitudes of African young adults...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$3,007
Among the Wildflowers. Original Large Landscape Oil Painting on Italian canvas.
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Among the Wildflowers" captures a serene moment in a wild meadow, depicting a quiet connection between two figures. The artist skillfully blends expressionism, impressionism, and re...
Canvas, Oil
$2,450
Thread of Becoming (Meditating) -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Nature
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The beauty of life can be captured through the silent dialogue between past and future—an intergenerational bond woven through time. Their intertwined silhouettes and warm, fluid mot...
Canvas, Acrylic
Sunflower time 65X50
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant oil painting, I poured my heart into capturing the fierce beauty of sunflowers standing tall. Each stroke embodies the energy and warmth these flowers exude, blending...
Canvas, Oil
$204
Impressionist abstract oil floral bouquet painting on cardboard "Lovely day"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This artwork makes part of my series dedicated to the scenes of a summer period. This floral painting called "Lovely day" is done in an expressive impressionist style. Floral art...
Oil, Cardboard
Large Judaica Oil Painting Samuel Grodensky Hasidic Rabbi, Children in Jerusalem
Located in Surfside, FL
Samuel Grodensky (1894-1974) "Hassidim" Hand signed and dated "Grodensky '62" u.l., Titled verso in pencil on stretcher 31" x 27" canvas , 35 1/2" x 31 1/2" framed. Large Fauvist Ex...
Canvas, Oil
$1,190
Yesterday, Today II - Expressive Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting, Realism
By Robert Bubel
Located in Salzburg, AT
The painting is signed on the back. The whole artistic output of Robert Bubel centres around subjective emotions and arousing emotion in the beholder. The source of inspiration- tha...
Canvas, Oil
$28,500
A Look at the Menu
By Marcel Dyf
Located in Sheffield, MA
Marcel Dyf French, 1899-1985 A Look at the Menu Oil on Canvas 21 ¼ by 25 ½ in, w/ frame 27 ¾ by 32 ¼ in Signed lower right Marcel Dyf (Marcel Dreyfus) was born in Paris on October ...
Oil
Tulips White 2
Located in Zofingen, AG
This artwork features a vibrant arrangement of five tulips, each uniquely colored, set against a textured, blue background. The flowers exhibit a smooth gradient of colors: from soft...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$1,599
Large 1960's French Expressionist Modernist Oil Painting Nude Woman Posing
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Nude Woman by Jacques Courtade (French 1923-1994) artists studio stamp verso oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 24 x 32 inches stamped verso Provenance: all the works we have for sa...
Oil
$481
Contemporary abstract figurative painting two women on paper "A pause for two"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“A Pause for Two” is a contemporary figurative painting by French artist Natalya Mougenot, part of her ongoing series dedicated to Women. The work captures a suspended moment of shar...
Acrylic, Paper
Nigerian Prince 1 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Painting, Men, Texture
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.
Acrylic, Cardboard
Before the Storm
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I sought to capture the vibrant yet calm moment before a storm. I used acrylic and oil to blend realism with abstraction, allowing the textures and colors to ...
Oil, Acrylic, Canvas
During Sunset
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I strove to capture the fleeting beauty of a sunset beach scene, emphasizing the deep, emotional connection between the figures and the vast, soothing expanse...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Early 20th Century French Expressionist Landscape “Le pique-nique” Oil Painting
Located in Holywell, GB
Early 20th Century Expressionist Landscape “Le pique-nique” A colourful landscape painted with confident dramatic brush strokes in the style of the early 20th century expressionist ...
Oil
$1,058Sale Price|20% Off
Fencers. Figurative Oil Painting, Olympic Games, Sport, Realistic, Polish artist
Located in Warsaw, PL
The painting shows sword fighting, which is one of the official sports of the Olympic Games. The fencing fights have a spectacular character, perfectly captured in the painting by Do...
Canvas, Oil
$5,650
Count Your Rainbows, Not Your Thunderstorms -21st Century, Contemporary Portrait
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique; it is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Arti...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Colors of Winter, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This expressionist landscape painting by artist Robert Hofherr depicts tree trunks rising through thick layers of snow, with quiet houses set in the background....
Acrylic
Old Gray, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Robert Hofherr shares that certain structures framed by trees often suggest strong compositional possibilities, as seen in this scene. The style and sett...
Acrylic
Emotional Metamorphosis 11: Lines of Illusion, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Petal-like shapes, vines, and organic forms overlap in this botanical painting. Created with acrylic paint, spray paint, and markers, the artwork features raise...
Acrylic
Emotional Metamorphosis 7, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Colorful organic and geometric shapes define this abstract expressionist painting. Paint drips run downward, adding a sense of motion to the scene. The composit...
Acrylic
Emotional Metamorphosis 2, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This vibrant medium-sized artwork explores the ever-changing emotional landscape. Its vivid colors and bold strokes suggest a blossoming, floral motif. The piec...
Acrylic
Creation Code: Code 5, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Expressive splashes and deliberate lines explore the tension between disorder and intention in this abstract expressionist painting. Vibrant colors and dynamic ...
Acrylic
$1,380
Sea of Blues Diptych, Abstract Blue & White Fish Patterns, Mediterranean Style
Located in Barcelona, ES
This series by Enric Servera explores the relationship of humans to salt and seawater. The intention of these works is to submerge us into the sea, a salty treasure that surrounds us and reminds us of its natural beauty and the importance of its preservation. Details: Title: Sea of Blue N28 & 29 Medium: Mixed Media on Paper Size: 63 x 180 cm (each panel measures 63x90 cm); 24.8 x 70.8 inches (24.8 x 36 inches). Year: 2024 * Frame is for illustrative purposes only. Artwork shipped carefully rolled and packaged in a tube. * Certificate of Authenticity provided. Enric Servera (Ciutadella de Menorca, 1970) lives and works between Barcelona and Menorca, Spain. His works explores the colors and forms of the ocean, inspired by the fauna and flora of the Mediterranean Sea. His work has shown in galleries across Spain, and is part of several public and private collections. Words that may describe this series of artworks are: Mediterranean-inspired art, abstract sea paintings...
Watercolor
Culture 4
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide 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 Authent...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,650
World of Clearance (Meditating) -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Nature
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Rooted in the belief that “everyone is a universe in himself,” the work explores the intimate journey of self-reflection and inner healing. The serene gaze, star-lit thoughts, and dr...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,900
Wish You Merry and Happy 1 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Holiday, Dog
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Season is the day that holds all time together with endless peace, joy, and love. Do not set aside your happiness season, do not wait to be happy in the future because the best time...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic