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.
Café de la Gare - Mid 20th Century French Expressionist Figurative Oil Painting
Located in Sevenoaks, GB
A superb mid 20th century French expressionist oil on canvas depicting a café de la gare (station café) as inscribed on the reverse. Numerous well dressed figures stand at the café ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,750
Togetherness - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Abstraction, Africa, Love
By Olajide Kuti
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
Crepe-Myrtle 2, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A crepe-myrtle tree blooms with delicate flowers that resemble colorful confetti. Its leaves sway gently in the breeze, glowing softly in the summer sunlight. E...
Oil
'Summer Flowers', Paris, Salon d'Automne, Post-Impressionist California Artist
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
'Summer Flowers' by Irma Engel Grabhorn Paris, Salon d'Automne, Post-Impressionist California Artist ---- Signed lower right 'Engel' for Irma Engel Grabhorn (American, 1908-2003) an...
Canvas, Oil
$3,350
Don't Be Perfect, Be Real -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 Eli...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
The legend of mountains. Love, family, parents, happiness, togetherness, couple
Located in Oslo, NO
"I painted this artwork about being together, being loved, and happy, which is perhaps the most important thing in life. "The legend of mountains" reflects this simple yet profound ...
Canvas, Oil
$3,480Sale Price|20% Off
Gentleman 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, 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 (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Charcoal, Pastel, Acrylic
$2,800
Deserving More: Mixed Media Expressionist Painting, Unframed
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
In "Deserving More," the central figure, a man, sits solemnly on a chair, his gaze piercing through the canvas to meet the audience's eyes. A subtle sadness etches his features, refl...
Fabric, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$708Sale 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
German Expressionist Oil Painting Bruno Krauskopf Cubist Cafe Scene
Located in Surfside, FL
Bruno Krauskopf (Germany, 1892-1960) Outdoor Restaurant Bar Cafe Scene Oil on canvas Dimensions: Frame: H 34 in W 44 in. Canvas: H 30-1/2 in. W 40 in. ...
Canvas, Oil
Sailing Ships, Modern Art Oil Painting on Board
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Unknown Title: Sailing Ships Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed "Thoms", lower left Size: 24 x 20 inches
Oil, Board
"On the Vine" (2023) By John McCaw, Expressionist Mixed Media Painting
By John McCaw
Located in Denver, CO
John McCaw's (US based) "On the Vine" is a beautiful original expressionist mixed media on canvas painting that depicts a ripe pepper plant with flowers in tow. John McCaw (b. 1967...
Mixed Media, Board
$1,694
Magic Unicorn" animal painting portrait of an animal in oil of Volskya Lily
Located in Zofingen, AG
Magic Unicorn" animal painting portrait of an animal in oil of Volsky Lily. This magical painting will delight and make even the saddest person smile. It seems to me that if you ask,...
Oil, Acrylic, Paste, Canvas
Fruit Market in Haiti, Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Framed, Circa 1990
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Title: Fruit Market in Haiti Artist: JM Gary Delly Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions (unframed): 9.8 x 7.9 in Dimensions (framed): 15 x 13 in Period: Approx. 1990-1999 Origin: Haiti Condition: Good, with frame included Description of the Artwork This painting captures a lively Haitian market scene, embodying the essence of Haitian primitivist art with its vibrant colors and thick impasto brushstrokes. The scene depicts a bustling marketplace where vendors and buyers interact, surrounded by piles of tropical fruits arranged in baskets. The figures are dressed in bright, contrasting tones, enhancing the painting’s dynamic and energetic atmosphere. The artist’s expressive, thick strokes and saturated colors create a sense of movement and liveliness. The composition is carefully balanced, with figures arranged in different planes, providing depth and perspective in an intuitive manner. The lush vegetation in the background and the bright blue sky add further context to the scene, situating it in the Caribbean setting. Haitian art, influenced by its African and Caribbean heritage, is known for its naïve style and depictions of everyday life. JM Gary Delly follows this tradition, celebrating the vibrancy of Haitian culture in his work. Comparable Artists This artwork shares stylistic similarities with renowned Haitian artists, including: Wilson Bigaud (1931-2010): A master of Haitian art, famous for his detailed depictions of everyday life and folklore. André Normil (1934-2015): Known for his naïve style and colorful representations of Haitian life. Laurent Casimir...
Canvas, Oil
Three Rabbis at The Torah, Expressionist Judaica Painting
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 three male figures with tefilin...
Paper, Gouache
Mid Century Expressionist Landscape, Oil on Canvas. The Countryside
Located in Cotignac, FR
Mid Century oil on canvas landscape painting by Franco Hungarian artist Elemer Vagh Weinmann. The painting is signed bottom right and is presented in a custom gilt frame with a white...
Canvas, Oil
$1,800
La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Africa
By Olajide Kuti
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
$1,800
Echoes of the Mind 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral
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 Bey...
Canvas, Oil
Somerset Lake by Joanna Commings, Original art, landscape art, Impasto art
Located in Deddington, GB
Somerset Lake by Joanna Commings [2021] original and hang signed by the artist Acrylics on canvas Image size: H:50 cm x W:60 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:50 cm x W:60 cm ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
C'est le Passe que Nous Attendons
Located in Long Island City, NY
An oil painting by Theo Tobiasse from 1967. An expressionist-style textural painting of intensely dark and vivid color palette. Inspired from the artist's personal experiences of the...
Canvas, Oil
Amroth seascape at night
By Rupert Aker
Located in Deddington, GB
Amroth seascape at night by Rupert Aker [2021] original Oil on board Image size: H:30 cm x W:40 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:40 cm x W:40 cm x D:3cm Frame Size: H:33 cm x W:...
Oil, Board
Lily pond
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this tranquil scene, I've poured my soul into the serene play of light and reflections, seeking to capture the pond’s subtle dance of water and lily pads. My use of oils ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,200
Interspecies Communication, colorful mythological swirling pattern orange tones
By Janet Morgan
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Watercolor, mixed media, using resists and metalic paints and old pastels. For Octopus and cephalopod fans. Janet Morgan’s explosive art captures the exu...
Mixed Media, Watercolor, Archival Paper
Promeneur au Pigeonnier, Expressionist Oil on Board Landscape, Signed
By Jean Arène
Located in Cotignac, FR
French landscape, Expressionist oil on board by Jean Arene. The painting is signed bottom left, titled dated and signed to the back and is presented in the original 'Arene' frame sup...
Oil
Mountain Range, Oil Painting on Canvas by Jalal Gharbi
By Jalal Gharbi
Located in Long Island City, NY
A large oil painting of a dramatic Mountain Range by Tunisian-born artist, Jalal Gharbi (1920 - 2005). The painting measures 30 x 40 inches and the frame 37.5 x 47.5 inches.
Canvas, Oil
$450
One More Shot 3 - 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
Reflection- 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Fashion
By Gobe Joseph
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...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$450
Quiet Strength 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Oil, Modern, 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 (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Oil
$872Sale Price|20% Off
20th Century French Expressionist Provencal Landscape Green Hills & Town
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
'Green Hills in Provence' French School, late 20th century oil on thin board, unframed board: 13.5 x 18 inches the painting is in overall very good and sou...
Oil
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
Les Non-Dits (The Unsaid) 2, - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait
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...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$4,200
"Days Like This" - Acrylic Abstract Painting With Layered Color Fields
Located in Denver, CO
"Days Like This" (2023) is an original, handmade painting by Leigh Ann Van Fossan. Created with acrylic on canvas, the artwork measures 40 x 30 x 2 inches (101.60 x 76.20 x 5.08 cm)....
Acrylic, Canvas
Benavente Solís Landscape - original expressionist
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Landscape original expressionist painting. frame Work of the Spanish artist BENAVENTE SOLIS. Perfect state . During its first exhibition in Paris, the French press catalogs it lik...
Wood, Oil
$2,235Sale Price|50% Off
“Sabine”, Expressionist Portrait of a Young Woman, Oil on Canvas, framed, N°187
Located in Genève, GE
A captivating portrait of a young woman titled “Sabine”, painted by Swiss artist Jean Ducommun. Although unsigned on the front, the work bears the artist...
Oil, Canvas
$225Sale Price|20% Off
Shepherd. Oil on canvas and cardboard, 24 x 26 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Shepherd. Oil on canvas and cardboard, 24 x 26 cm Victor Karnauh (1950, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR – 2012, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine) – a painter, a monument designer...
Oil, Canvas, Cardboard
Interminable, colorful abstracted male nude figure modern cubist
By Tom Bennett
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This is an oil painting on canvas with aggressive, active, colorful strokes representing a male nude figure from the waist up. Emotionally charged and...
Oil
Flowers in the morning dew, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By LE ANH TUAN
Located in Yardley, PA
Flowers in the morning dew The most beautiful flowers are in the early morning. When the dawn just dawned, the petals began to gradually bloom, with the water lily, the lotus in th...
Acrylic
$10,002Sale Price|32% Off
Woman Surrealism Oil on Canvas Painting, Expressionist, Framed, 2000s
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Artist: Alvar Suñol Title: Figurative Composition Date: c.2000 Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions (canvas): 81 x 100 cm (31.9 x 39.3 in) Framed: Yes Condition: Excellent Alvar Suñol –...
Canvas, Oil
Mid Century Expressionist Matador
Located in San Francisco, CA
Beautiful mid century mystery painting. Expressionist bull fighting oil on canvas with fabulous fauvist colors. It is signed upper right corner, but I cannot make it out. Painting me...
Oil
Spring – Impressionist Abstract Flower Tree Oil Painting Wall Art Canvas
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
This original oil painting is an atmospheric landscape artwork titled Spring, created by the registered artist Elena Lukina in 2022.Designed with an innate sense of balance, this pai...
Canvas, Oil
$3,350
One Mind With Many Thoughts - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Sometimes, our thoughts can be the enemy. We need to be careful about our thoughts because we can lose ourselves. Life can be tough, filled with challenges and difficulties, but it's...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Fantasy with Flowers 25
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Fantasy with Flowers" (series of 200+ pictures) paper 59x42cm On the paper acrylic, oil pastel, felt-tip pen, ink, gold leaf, pencils, silver,mixed media. Flowers are a smile of ...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$470Sale Price|20% Off
Patrick Boudon. Inner Family. Post-war Expressionism. 1970s.
Located in Firenze, IT
Patrick Boudon. Inner Family. Post-war Expressionism. 1970s. Patrick Boudon. Art Informel. Ecole de Paris. Technique: oil on cardboard. This painting by Patrick Boudon from the 197...
Oil, Cardboard
Melanin - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Fashion
By Gobe Joseph
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...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Mixed Media
$1,317Sale Price|40% Off
Church of Saint-Nicolas du Chardonnet, Gouache on Paper, 1930s, Framed
By Lucien Génin
Located in London, GB
'The Church of Saint-Nicolas du Chardonnet, Paris', gouache on art paper by Lucien Génin (circa 1930s). In Paris' 5th Arrondissement the site in which Saint-Nicolas du Chardonnet is ...
Paper, Gouache
Women and Children, Expressionist Oil on Canvas by Vega Cillero
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
"Women and Children, Expressionist Oil on Canvas by Vega Cillero." Oil on canvas. Signed lower right. Artwork: 81 × 101 cm (31.9 × 39.8 in.). Framed: 99 × 120 cm (39 × 47.2 in.). Th...
Oil, Canvas
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...
Canvas, Coffee, Mixed Media
Woven Identities 4 - 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
Cascading Waves of the Caribbean, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Elena Lukina
Located in Yardley, PA
In this dynamic oil painting, I've captured the power and grace of the sea, blending impressionism with touches of realism to evoke the raw beauty of nature. The vibrant hues and exp...
Oil
"Sarabono" (2009) by Jann T. Bass, Original Oil Painting of Landscape
Located in Denver, CO
"Sarabono" (2009) by Jann T. Bass is an original handmade oil painting that depicts a colorful flowery landscape. This painting measures 12 x 14 inches and is ready to hang.
Oil, Board
$1,800
Fractured Innocence - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Abstraction, Africa
By Olajide Kuti
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
"Valley View" (2009) by Jann T. Bass, Original Oil Painting of Landscape
Located in Denver, CO
"Valley View" (2009) by Jann T. Bass is an original handmade oil painting that depicts a lush green valley with a small lake in the middle. This painting measures 9 x 12 inches and i...
Oil, Board
Pacific Seaside Sunset, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
An oversized abstract seascape, inspired by the incredible sunsets along the California coast., The transient beauty of a sunset by the sea is expressed with vigorous brushstrokes an...
Acrylic
"Mexican Landscape Water Scene with Figures and Boat" 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
The Resonance of Light: Bouquet of Roses" Large Square Oil Painting – 2015
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
This original oil painting, representing a central part of the series "The Silent Pulse of Decadence", focuses on the narrative dialogue between silent objects and nature. The compos...
Canvas, Oil
Siblings 1 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Abstraction, Modern, 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 (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
Afternoon Colors, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A path leads to Mt. Diablo in this Fauvist landscape. Artist James Hartman used thick layers of oil paint to create an expressive and textured outdoor scene. In...
Oil
In Her Solitude - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women, Modern
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
In her solitude, she finds clarity. The world outside may move at an unforgiving pace, but here, in the quiet, she breathes. She sits with her thoughts, letting them rise and fall li...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,350
Bohemian - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Surrealism, Africa, Women
By Elisha Nyong
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"The Bohemian" is part of a new collection titled "Ode to Guardians and the Impuissant". It is a visual discourse on the frail but resilient nature of black women whom I call black h...
Linen, Oil
$5,554Sale Price|45% Off
¨Topiaria¨. Expressionist colorful garden. Big format Oil on canvas
Located in Segovia, ES
Topiaria. Big format Oil on canvas Beautiful garden by Chico Montilla. Measurements: (H) 130 x (W) 195 x 3 cm. Framed 142 x 207 x 5 cm. Colorful expressionist view of a garden with plants that have been given artistic form through the topiary art...
Canvas, Oil
$1,811Sale Price|40% Off
The Park, Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Framed, Circa 1920s, 66 cm
Located in London, GB
'The Park', oil on canvas, by M. Phidias (circa 1920s). Painted using this artist's trademark impasto, the effect is to add depth and texture to the exuberant display of hues and ref...
Canvas, Oil