Skip to main content

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.

to
512
776
617
694
658
790
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
1
16
1,008
2,510
6
7
28
45
38
68
111
127
99
119
1
42,402
38,507
23,351
8,555
4,829
3,193
2,707
1,234
1,188
922
907
405
272
1,727
1,222
577
1,486
1,173
956
535
370
334
331
293
274
238
191
174
147
128
123
84
82
79
77
70
3,378
2,168
1,832
1,792
1,267
46
43
40
40
38
900
169
1,587
1,220
Style: Expressionist
Abstract III, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Abstract III, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Abstract III, Painting, Oil on Canvas

By Ludmila Budanov

Located in Yardley, PA

New work by Ludmila in abstract style. The artist works in two styles - the first is more feminine, with smooth lines reminiscent of underwater plants, and the second is completely o...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Fantasy with Flowers 54
Fantasy with Flowers 54

Fantasy with Flowers 54

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 ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper

The Secret in Her Eyes, Romantic Realism Oil on Canvas Painting, 1980s
The Secret in Her Eyes, Romantic Realism Oil on Canvas Painting, 1980s

The Secret in Her Eyes, Romantic Realism Oil on Canvas Painting, 1980s

By Rosendo Gonzalez Carbonell

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Technical Sheet - Title: *The Secret in Her Eyes* - Artist: Rosendo González Carbonell - Technique: Oil on canvas - Dimensions: 24 x 20 inches - Framing: Unframed - Style: Romantic realism...

Category

1980s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Resilience - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women, Africa
Resilience - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women, Africa

Resilience - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women, Africa

By Esther Obiwuru

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Expressionist Colorful Landscape Oil Paint : San Antonio
Expressionist Colorful Landscape Oil Paint : San Antonio

Expressionist Colorful Landscape Oil Paint : San Antonio

By Chico Montilla

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...

Category

Early 1900s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mother's Strength - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern
Mother's Strength - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern

Mother's Strength - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern

By Kehinde Oyafajo

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

This artwork celebrates the resilience and unwavering strength of motherhood. The mother carries her child close to her heart while balancing the demands of daily life. Her calm expr...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Displaced Beauty - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Woman
Displaced Beauty - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Woman

Displaced Beauty - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Woman

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Displaced Beauty challenges the shifting standards of beauty shaped by social media and societal expectations. The figure stands as a quiet resistance, embracing natural African feat...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

Large Vintage Expressionist Landscape Original Oil Painting
Large Vintage Expressionist Landscape Original Oil Painting

Large Vintage Expressionist Landscape Original Oil Painting

Located in Buffalo, NY

A gorgeous bright green expressionist landscape by Carl Ashby. From the collection of renowned painter Steve Wheeler. Nicely framed in a gold and black wooden floater frame. Measurin...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

St Tropez on the French Riviera, Oil on Board Painting by Ramon Dilley
St Tropez on the French Riviera, Oil on Board Painting by Ramon Dilley

St Tropez on the French Riviera, Oil on Board Painting by Ramon Dilley

Located in Atlanta, GA

Ramon Dilley — Coastal View of Saint‑Tropez, Oil on Board Painting, 1985 A vibrant and atmospheric oil on board painting by Ramon Dilley (French, 1932–2020), capturing the luminous charm of Saint‑Tropez with the artist's signature blend of color, rhythm, and Mediterranean warmth. The composition unfolds across a hillside of red‑roofed houses descending toward the harbor, where sailboats rest against a backdrop of rolling hills and expressive skies. Dilley's confident brushwork and saturated palette infuse the scene with movement and sunlit vitality. The painting is presented in its original Montparnasse‑style gilded wood frame, richly carved and perfectly suited to the work's spirited Provençal character. The reverse bears the handwritten inscription "St‑Tropez, rue de la Citadelle, 6/1/85", anchoring the piece to a precise moment and place in the artist's career. A compelling addition for collectors of French modern painting and Mediterranean landscapes, this piece offers both decorative appeal and strong provenance. A highly decorative and collectible artwork for interiors seeking French Riviera charm, vintage coastal art...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Board, Oil

Don't Rush Life 2 - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative, Portrait, Africa, Men
Don't Rush Life 2 - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative, Portrait, Africa, Men

Don't Rush Life 2 - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative, Portrait, Africa, Men

By Elijah Olanase

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Perfect Duet -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral Mixed Media
Perfect Duet -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral Mixed Media

Perfect Duet -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral Mixed Media

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Don't Look Back, Your Life Isn't There Anymore -21st Century, Contemporary Women
Don't Look Back, Your Life Isn't There Anymore -21st Century, Contemporary Women

Don't Look Back, Your Life Isn't There Anymore -21st Century, Contemporary Women

By Elijah Olanase

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Symbol of Hope -21st Century Contemporary Figurative of a Woman and Bird Modern
Symbol of Hope -21st Century Contemporary Figurative of a Woman and Bird Modern

Symbol of Hope -21st Century Contemporary Figurative of a Woman and Bird Modern

By Awofadeju Solomon

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

God instructed the prophet Elijah to flee a drought by hiding at the Kerith Brook (Cherith Ravine) east of the Jordan River, where God promised to provide water and commanded ravens ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Focus Mixed Media Painting on Canvas, Expressionist, 21st Century
Focus Mixed Media Painting on Canvas, Expressionist, 21st Century

Focus Mixed Media Painting on Canvas, Expressionist, 21st Century

By Taiwo Odejinmi

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic

3 Whisper of the Adriatic Venice Biennale 2026 Project
3 Whisper of the Adriatic Venice Biennale 2026 Project

3 Whisper of the Adriatic 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 ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Linen, Oil

Mason-Jar - 21st Century, Contemporary, Still Life, Abstract, Plants, Flower
Mason-Jar - 21st Century, Contemporary, Still Life, Abstract, Plants, Flower

Mason-Jar - 21st Century, Contemporary, Still Life, Abstract, Plants, Flower

By Josue M Pierre

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 ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Come A Long Way 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Oil, Modern, Fashion

Come A Long Way 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Oil, Modern, Fashion

By Afolayan Emmanuel

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Haystacks  in Nordmany

Haystacks in Nordmany

By Bernard Buffet

Located in New York, NY

This is a period when the artist saw the light differently and the journey all started in 1971. Bernard Buffet, the artist, was searching for subjects, looking to paint what he saw j...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

North West. Richard K Blades. Oil painting of the sea and sky Turner influence.
North West. Richard K Blades. Oil painting of the sea and sky Turner influence.

North West. Richard K Blades. Oil painting of the sea and sky Turner influence.

By Richard K Blades

Located in Coltishall, GB

North West - a tumultuous seascape beneath a dramatic sky. Blades' textured brushstrokes that merge shades of deep indigo and soft pink, suggest an impending storm. The transition fr...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Gouache Watercolor Painting, Nantucket Harbor Boats American Deaf Modernist Art
Gouache Watercolor Painting, Nantucket Harbor Boats American Deaf Modernist Art

Gouache Watercolor Painting, Nantucket Harbor Boats American Deaf Modernist Art

By Robert Freiman

Located in Surfside, FL

Abstract harbor scene with boats, in bold, vivid colors on heavy mould made paper. Hand signed and dated, 1980 22 X 30 not frame Robert Freiman, deaf from birth, was born in March 1917 in New York City. He attended an oral program near his home and later transferred to the Lexington School for the Deaf when he was six. Early in his childhood, his love for drawing, painting and studying became apparent, and as an adult, he continued his studies in New York at the National Academy of Design, Pratt Institute, the Art Students League and the Parsons School of Design. In Paris, France he studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Bob Freiman was especially focused on painting portraits and figures in motion in various mediums, especially the mixed-media combination of watercolor, acrylic and pen. Among his subjects were acrobats, ballet dancers, cyclists and other athletes. He as well focused on abstracts for a time, discovering new media in his works with quick brushwork and expressive movements. In the latter part of his career, his style became abstract and surreal with images of metaphysical landscapes with architectural elements such as arches, towers, pyramids and castles floating in the air. The famed art critic Pierre Rouve wrote: “It is therefore refreshing to see them revitalized by the colourist wealth and virile handwriting of Robert Freiman, probably the best American water-colorist since John Marin. He worked in Provincetown and Nantucket and regularly exhibited there. He showed at Doll & Richards gallery of Boston alongside John Chetcuti, Lloyd Goodrich, Tod Lindenmuth, William Meyerowitz, Dwight Shepler...

Category

1980s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Gouache, Archival Paper

Amedee de La PATELLIERE, Eclipse with 4 Characters, 1928
Amedee de La PATELLIERE, Eclipse with 4 Characters, 1928

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....

Category

1920s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Vibrant Bowl of Cherries Oil Painting by Pierre Jerome
Vibrant Bowl of Cherries Oil Painting by Pierre Jerome

Vibrant Bowl of Cherries Oil Painting by Pierre Jerome

By Pierre Jerome

Located in Surfside, FL

approximate image size 13 3/4'' x 10 1/2'', frame size 22'' x 19''. Pierre Jerome French 1905-1982 During his 50+ year career as an artist, he won several major awards, including a...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Port of Honfleur, Oil on Canvas, Expressionist, Framed, 1958
The Port of Honfleur, Oil on Canvas, Expressionist, Framed, 1958

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, ...

Category

1950s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Self Love 3 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Mixed Media, African Woman
Self Love 3 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Mixed Media, African Woman

Self Love 3 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Mixed Media, African Woman

By Oluwafemi Akanmu

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. Signed on the front side and accompanie...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic

"Still Life with Apples" Fruit Modern Mid Century Oil Painting on Board Painting
"Still Life with Apples" Fruit Modern Mid Century Oil Painting on Board Painting

"Still Life with Apples" Fruit Modern Mid Century Oil Painting on Board Painting

By Michael Baxte

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 wonderful representation of his bold still life paintings, with expressive use of color, shape, and form. Later in his career, Baxte explores Expressionism, infusing both European and North American stylistic trends. This piece is from later in his career, but we can feel this underlying style throughout. Art measures 15 x 11 inches Frame measures 22 x 19 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. Around 1912, Michael Baxte returned to Europe to study the violin. In 1914 he, his mother, and Joseph moved to New York City. Meanwhile, in Algeria, a talented young woman painter, Violette Mege...

Category

1960s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Mid-Century Modern Expressionist Still Life of Vibrant Flowers, Signed McKay
Mid-Century Modern Expressionist Still Life of Vibrant Flowers, Signed McKay

Mid-Century Modern Expressionist Still Life of Vibrant Flowers, Signed McKay

Located in San Francisco, CA

On offer is a mid-century modern, Expressionist floral still life painted in oil on canvas board, signed MacKay and dated '64. The painting belongs to the Expressionist/Modernist sti...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

Souvenir of Resilience 3 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait Fashion
Souvenir of Resilience 3 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait Fashion

Souvenir of Resilience 3 -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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Oil on canvas French Expressionist Alsatian Village by E. Ritter France
Oil on canvas French Expressionist Alsatian Village by E. Ritter France

Oil on canvas French Expressionist Alsatian Village by E. Ritter France

Located in Valladolid, ES

Amazing and extraordinary oil on canvas painting is signed by Etienne Ritter in the lower right corner. It depicts a European village from the French region of Alsace, following the...

Category

1970s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Away From The Lens 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Oil, Women, Fashion

Away From The Lens 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Oil, Women, Fashion

By Afolayan Emmanuel

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mediterranean Village of Mallorca oil on canvas painting
Mediterranean Village of Mallorca oil on canvas painting

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:...

Category

1950s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, 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.