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.
"Dream of Isles" (2023) by Leigh Ann Van Fossan, Original Acrylic &Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Leigh Ann Van Fossan's "Dream of Isles" (2023) is an original, handmade oil and acrylic abstract painting with bright colors. Van Fossan was born in Vail, Colorado, and began oil ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Azalea and Dogwood, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
In a vibrant yard, pink flowering trees and yellow bushes flourish, partially concealing a two-story house with their lush foliage. The bright morning sunlight ...
Acrylic
$5,587Sale Price|40% Off
Corsican Chestnut Trees, Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Framed, 1933
Located in London, GB
'Corsican Chestnut Trees', oil on canvas, by Charles Kvapil (1933). The artist, Kvapil, has many artworks which depict scenes in nature such as this one....
Oil, Canvas
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
Amedee de La PATELLIERE, Eclipse with 4 Characters, 1928
Located in Saint Amans des cots, FR
Oil on canvas by Amedee de La PATELLIERE, France, 1928. Eclipse with four characters. With frame: 63x54 cm - 24.8x21.25 inches ; without frame: 41x33 cm - 16.15x13 inches. Format 6F....
Canvas, Oil
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
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
Purple evening and jasmine" floral still life in oil of Volskya Lily.
Located in Zofingen, AG
Purple evening and jasmine" floral still life in oil of Volsky Lily.When the energy starts flowing through me, I don't control the process - the brush moves by itself. The picture se...
Canvas, Oil
Away From The Lens 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Oil, Women, 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
$1,250
Bulb Vase - 21st Century, Contemporary, Still Life, Abstract, Plants, Flower
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 Josue M Pierre ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$7,143Sale Price|20% Off
Venice Grand Canal Landscape Bouvard Aldine 19/20th Century Paint Oil on canvas
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Antoine Bouvard, called Marc Aldine (L'Isere 1875 - Paris 1957) Signed 'Bouvard' lower right View of Venice with the Grand Canal (link) oil on canvas 60 x 86 cm Framed 70 x 96 cm. Very good condition We present an evocative view of Venice with a glimpse of the fascinating Grand Canal, signed by the famous French Vedutist Antoine Bouvard, also known by his pseudonym, Marc Aldine. Considered one of the most talented illustrators of the lagoon city who worked there in the first part of the 20th century, he became one of the most acclaimed vedutists of that period, with a success that led him to exhibit throughout France and Italy as well as in numerous European galleries...
Oil
$1,203Sale Price|20% Off
Vue sur la Ville au Toit Rouge / View Over the City of Red Roofs
Located in London, GB
Vue sur la Ville au Toit Rouge (View Over the City of Red Roofs), oil on canvas, by Guy Le Péqueux (circa late 1960s). The artist channels his expressionist sensibility into a vivid,...
Canvas, Oil
$978Sale Price|20% Off
French Expressionist Sludgy Green & Brown Landscape Very Thick Oil Impasto
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Green Landscape French artist, indistinctly signed, dated verso 1985 oil painting on canvas, in wooden frame canvas: 10 x 17 inches wooden frame: 9.5 x 16 inches provenance: private ...
Oil, Canvas
$5,589Sale 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
$821
Exploring Every Path 4 Magdalena Morey, Original Contemporary Impressionist Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Magdalena Morey Exploring Every Path 4 Original Cubist Inspired Landscape Painting Mixed Media on Canvas Canvas Size: H 30cm x W 30cm x D 3.5cm Sold Unframed (Please note that in sit...
Pastel, Paper, Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor
Expressionist Colorful Landscape Oil Paint : San Antonio
Located in Segovia, ES
San Antonio . Oil on canvas by Spanish artist Chico Montilla. Measurements: (H) 65 x (W) 81 x 2 (D) cm. Framed 85 x 101 x 5 cm. San Antonio, another expressionist view of the countr...
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
1 Depth in Minor Painting, Turquoise Palette, Venice Biennale 2026
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Depth in Minor" is the fundamental work that opens the entire Venetian cycle. It captures the incredible, translucent emerald light within a cresting wave — a symbol of inner streng...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
$3,350
GenZ Lovers -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Abstraction, Africa, Couple
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
$2,747Sale Price|46% Off
Series "The Imaginary traveler nº29" Expressionist corner with flowers and cat.
Located in Segovia, ES
Series "The Imaginary traveler nº29" Expressionist corner with flowers and cat. Oil on linen by Chico Montilla. Measurements: (H) 100 x (W) 81 x (D) 2 cm. Framed (H) 112 x (W) 93 ...
Linen, Oil
$1,495
19th Century Impressionist Manner Oil Seascape Winter Sunset Harbor Scene Signed
Located in Stockholm, SE
This marine oil on canvas resonates with French Impressionism of the late 19th century (reminiscent of the circle or followers of Eugène Boudin) and captures the fleeting poetry of w...
Canvas, Wood, Oil
"At the Cafe" Oil on Canvas Signed The Picasso of Tangier Moroccan Painting
Located in Pistoia, IT
"At the café. Oil on panel signed lower left.Beautiful work by the great Moroccan painter Antonio Fuentes (Tangier 1905 - 1995). In the Hotel Fuentes, Antonio Fuentes was born on O...
Canvas, Oil
$1,972Sale Price|20% Off
The Port of Honfleur, Oil on Canvas, Expressionist, Framed, 1958
Located in London, GB
'The Port of Honfleur, France', oil on canvas, by Julien Varlet (1958). A vibrant and evocative harbour scene from the historic port city of Honfleur in Normandy, France. Colourful, ...
Canvas, Oil
5 Waiting for the Tide 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 ...
Canvas, Oil, Linen
$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
Paris Street Scene, Expressionist Cityscape Oil Painting
Located in Genève, GE
Dimensions with frame: 47 x 34 x 3,5 cm. Signed "A Carducci" in the lower right corner. A vibrant and expressive depiction of a Parisian street scene, animated by pedestrians, shopfronts, and early automobiles under a lively urban atmosphere. The composition captures the dynamic rhythm of city life, with figures moving through a bustling intersection framed by Haussmannian architecture. Executed with bold, gestural brushwork and a richly textured surface, the painting emphasizes movement, light, and immediacy over fine detail. The artist employs a dynamic palette of warm browns, greys, and ochres, punctuated by vivid accents of red, yellow, and blue, bringing energy and depth to the scene. The wet pavement and reflections suggest recent rain, enhancing the sense of atmosphere and modernity. The buildings are rendered with a semi-abstract approach, their forms slightly distorted through expressive handling, aligning the work with Post-Impressionist and early Expressionist tendencies. This painting reflects the vitality of early 20th century Paris, appealing to collectors of modernist cityscapes, Parisian subjects, and expressive urban painting. paris street scene painting, scène de rue à paris, paris cityscape oil painting...
Oil, Cardboard
Sea. Sailboat.
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I sought to capture the serene dance between sky and sea, interspersed with the graceful ballet of a sailboat. Infused with the essence of expressionism and the delica...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
Anima and Animus. Carl Jung, psychology, man and a woman, couple, bird
Located in Oslo, NO
"Anima and Animus" is an oil painting from Alter Ego series, inspired by Carl Jung’s analytical psychology. The series explores the inner world of the self — the tension between diff...
Canvas, Oil
Expressionist Large Oil Painting of Two Knitters, Signed, 73x92 cm
By Jean Arène
Located in Cotignac, FR
French Mid Century Large Expressionist oil on canvas of two seated Provencale figures, Le Tricoteur, by Jean Arene. The painting is signed and dated bottom left. Painted when Arene...
Canvas, Oil
$2,191
Afternoon Stroll - 1950's French Expressionist Mid Century Landscape Painting
By André Beaucé
Located in Sevenoaks, GB
A beautiful large 1950's French expressionist oil on canvas depicting locals taking an afternoon stroll, by Paris painter André Beaucé. Excellent quality ...
Canvas, Oil
Mediterranean Village of Mallorca oil on canvas painting
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Artist: Bernat Sanjuan i Tarré (Barcelona, 1915 – Deià, Mallorca, 1979) Title: Mediterranean Village of Mallorca Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 65 × 92 cm (25.6 × 36.2 in) Framed:...
Canvas, Oil
French Fauvist Post Impressionist Oil Painting Frederick Serger Ecole de Paris
Located in Surfside, FL
Frederick Serger Genre: Post Impressionist Subject: Flowers, Poppies Medium: Oil Surface: Panel Hand signed lower left Frederick Serger (given name Frederick Bedrick Sinaberger) w...
Oil, Panel
Low tide by Richard Blades. Oil painting. Sunset over the sea. Turner influence
Located in Coltishall, GB
Richard K Blades mesmerizing oil painting captures the ethereal beauty of a sunset over a tranquil sea. The sky, painted in vivid hues of orange and crimson, seamlessly blends with s...
Oil, Board
$600
"Abstract Overhead Parking Lot" (2005) Expressionist Cityscape, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Subject matter to me is a vehicle for me to explore how I observe life. My urban influences are an assembly of varied fabrics stitched together to form a tapestry. It is not to re...
Oil, Panel
Coral tulips 1
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I poured my soul into capturing the vibrant energy and delicate beauty of tulips. Through bold brushstrokes and rich oil hues, I aimed to evoke warmth and resilience. ...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$450
Quiet Strength 1 - 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
Vintage Modernist Beach Sunset Vibrantly Toned Seascape Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage French expressionist beach scene. Framed. Measuring: 10 by 15 inches overall and 4 by 9 painting alone. Signed. Excellent condition, ready to hang and enjoy.
Oil, Board
$790
Vivid Lush Leaves Sketch, Botanic Drawing, Expressionist Style, Watercolor Paper
Located in Barcelona, ES
This expressionist botanical drawing on paper captures the raw vitality of exotic flowers through fresh, vigorous gestures. Milano's drawings abandon precise realism in favor of emot...
Paper, Wax Crayon, Acrylic
$4,238Sale Price|50% Off
"Expressionist Oil Painting 'Landscape', Canvas, Belgian, Circa 1928"
Located in London, GB
'Landscape', oil on canvas, by Charles Kvapil (1928). The artist, Kvapil, has scores of tremendous artworks which depict scenes in nature such as this one. Here, a bit of Mediterrane...
Canvas, Oil
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage American New York City Bridge Cityscape
By Simon Gaon
Located in Buffalo, NY
A gorgeous New York cityscape. Beautifully framed in a silver gilt wooden floater frame. Measuring: 23 by 31 inches overall and 22 by 30 inches image alone. Excellent condition, read...
Oil, Board
$4,000
Don't Rush Life 3 - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative, Portrait, Africa, Men
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Where am from Bandana was once a common style, we called it Big Boy Style, then it's seem to me like a style or fashion only, because our elder brothers only allowed to used it but n...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Oil painting on canvas " Rough sea with coastline on the horizon " by Schubring
By Richard Schubring
Located in Gavere, BE
Schubring, Richard (1853-1902) Rough sea with coastline on the horizon Oil on canvas. Signed and dated lower right. “1895” Richard SCHUBRING is an artist born in 1853 and deceased...
Gold Leaf
$450
Where The Body Breaks The Line - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, 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
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Woman with Red Hair
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Baron Robert Heinrich Freiherr von Doblhoff (1880 Vienna - 1960 ibid.) Woman with Red Hair Ink and watercolor on paper, image measures 6.25 x 7.25 inc...
Ink, Watercolor
Two Woodsmen, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Two woodsmen stand in a sunlit spring forest in this Fauvist painting. The figures balance the large tree trunks and dense foliage around them. Bright colors an...
Acrylic
Love: Large Contemporary Figurative Painting in Oil and Acrylic
Located in London, London
All custom charges are included in the final price agreed. The figures appear intertwined yet autonomous, evoking themes of identity, intimacy, and performance without narrative clo...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Tulips Red 3
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Tulips Red 3" bursts with life, a vivid floral painting where passion blooms in every detail. Red tulips take center stage, their vibrant hues energized by touches of blue, yellow, ...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
Blooming garden – Impressionist Landscape Garden Oil Painting Wall Art
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
This vibrant oil painting is an evocative landscape painting titled Blooming garden created by the internationally registered artist Elena Lukina in 2013.Notably, this original artwo...
Canvas, Oil
Flowers n°2 Still Life Painting, Oil on Wood, Expressionist, 1941
Located in Genève, GE
Signed and dated "Fleurs Genève 1941 n°2", inscription on the verso. Dimensions with frame: 59 x 46 x 5 cm This expressive still life depicts a bouquet of flowers arranged in an orn...
Oil, Wood Panel
What Does The Future Hold 1 -21st Century Contemporary, Portrait, 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
$2,558Sale Price|20% Off
Small city center. 2013. Cardboard, oil, 97x123 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Street view. 2013. Cardboard, oil, 97x123 cm
Oil, Cardboard
Resilience -21st Century Contemporary Figurative Portrait, Woman against Nature
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 Ogu...
Canvas, Acrylic
Gravity of Light: Marine Chronicles
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
A cornerstone of the 'Gravity of Light: Marine Chronicles' collection, this 2012 masterpiece marks the origins of Elena Lukina’s signature philosophy: "The Turquoise Silence." Painte...
Canvas, Oil
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
$6,350
Look How Far You've Come -21st Century, Contemporary Figurative Portrait, Pigeon
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Stop being so hard on yourself. You’ve been through a lot, and that’s what led you to be so hard on yourself. Still, I want you to take a moment to look at how resilient you are, loo...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Ian Hornak, Primeval Landscape, 1985
By Ian Hornak
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite acrylic painting by Ian Hornak (1944–2002), titled Primeval Landscape, was executed in 1985. The work belongs to one of the most fascinating transitional periods of Ho...
Acrylic, Panel
Portrait of Blue Boy, Vienna Secession Style, Oil on Canvas, Framed
Located in London, London
original hand painted one of a kind hand signed will be shipped FRAMED 'Like Henri Matisse and Italian Renaissance painters like Giotto, I experiment with the vibrant pow...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Tempera
$7,300
Kinetic Azure: Deep Turquoise Abstract Expressionism – Large Palette Knife Oil
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this monumental 80x120 cm work from her 2024 pivotal collection, Elena Lukina redefines the boundaries of contemporary marine abstraction. 'Kynetic Azure' is not merely a depictio...
Canvas, Oil
$1,312Sale 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 ...
Gouache, Paper
$1,800
"Love Poem" (2024) by Leigh Ann Van Fossan, Original Acrylic Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Leigh Ann Van Fossan's "Love Poem" is an original acrylic depicting an impressionistic aspen landscape in soft pastel colors. Van Fossan was born in Vail, Colorado, and began oil p...
Canvas, Acrylic