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.
Lady in a Purple Hair - 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 Dan...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil
Summer Soirée
Located in Coltishall, GB
Summer Soirée. Inspired by Rachaels life in Norfolk where she she enjoys dog walks along the North Norfolk coast and working in her studio close to the Norfolk Broads. Surrounded by ...
Canvas, Wood, Acrylic
Red poppies 40Х40 oil painting
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've poured my passion into every brushstroke, capturing the wild spirit of nature through a vibrant dance of reds and subdued background hues. My expressionist...
Canvas, Oil
j. Abella gymnast Original acrylic painting framed.
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Abella. Original acrylic painting Juan Jose Abella Rubio was born in Estercuel, a hamlet anchored in the Teruel mining basin in March 1944. In his painting the ocher and reddish c...
Acrylic, Cardboard
Water Wonder Land, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Gentle waves roll toward a distant shore, echoing the wispy clouds above. Blades of grass in the dark foreground create contrast against the bright sky and wate...
Oil
Flowers
Located in Genève, GE
Work on wood Salmon wood frame Dimensions with frame : 56 x 41 x 1.7 cm This work of art, dominated by swirls of vibrant, bold colors, embodies a feeling...
Oil
$2,605Sale Price|20% Off
Mid Century French Expressionist Portrait Man in Crown Framed Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title Mid Century French Expressionist Portrait Man in Crown Framed Oil Painting Key Details Artist: French School, mid 20th century Title: Expressionist Portrait of a Man Medium: Oi...
Oil
$962Sale Price|23% Off
1970s Expressionist Acrylic. 'Seated Figure'.
Located in Cotignac, FR
An expressionist portrait of a seated figure, acrylic on paper by French artist Alain Caucat. Signed bottom right. Also signed and dated to the back of the framing board. Presented u...
Paper, Acrylic
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...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Montull Patio Terrace Garden Flowers oil canvas expressionist painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Patio. Original oil canvas expressionist painting
Oil
Fantasy with Flowers 10
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
"West Bound and Weird" Original Painting on Panel ( 16 x 16 )
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Born in Tallahasee Fl, William started his artistic career as a color consultant for his family's Design and Painting company that took on constant projects of custom painted interio...
Acrylic
"Let em Live” Original Painting on Panel ( 39 x 45 )
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Born in Tallahasee Fl, William started his artistic career as a color consultant for his family's Design and Painting company that took on constant projects of custom painted interio...
Paper, Acrylic
$434
Pocket Green Fig and Pocket Gooseberry by Dani Humberstone- fruit- figurative
Located in Deddington, GB
original Oil on Canvas Image size: H:5 cm x W:5 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:5 cm x W:5 cm x D:3cm Frame Size: H:16 cm x W:16 cm x D:3.5cm if sold together would be H:5 and W...
Canvas, Oil
White flower
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I sought to merge the surreal with the natural, portraying a woman emerging from a whimsical, flower-laden landscape that blurs into a vintage-style ambiance. The s...
Canvas, Oil
Shark Attack
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original mixed media acrylic and ink painting by French American artist James Beaudin.
Acrylic, Archival Ink, Panel
Village Canal, Impressionist Oil Painting by Stanley Sobossek
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Stanley Sobossek, American (1918 - 1996) Title: untitled - Village Canal Year: circa 1965 Medium: Oil on Canvas, Signed Size: 24 x 30 inches (60.96 x 76.2 cm)
Oil
$1,790Sale Price|20% Off
French Expressionist Fauvist Busy City Square Figures Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title French Expressionist Fauvist Busy City Square Figures Oil Painting on Canvas Key Details Artist: French School, circa 1970s Title: Busy City Street / Square Scene with Figures ...
Oil
$2,286Sale Price|30% Off
Blooming garden by the pond
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this oil painting, I poured my soul into capturing the enchanting interplay of light and shadows, where blooms dance above tranquil waters. Merging realism with impressionistic t...
Canvas, Oil
Banks Of The River and The Houses of Alsace, French 1950s Oil on Canvas, Signed
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Banks Of The River and The Houses of Alsace, French 1950s Oil on canvas 24 x 28.5 in. depicting a quiet canal scene with moored barges, a cluster of houses along the waters edge, and slender trees rising in the foreground. The sky is rendered in moody gray tones, contrasting with the earthy hues of the embankment and architecture. The work is signed lower center and retains an artist name plaque affixed to the frame 33x37x3in. Rene Charles Bellanger 1895-1964 French. Son of Charles Bellanger (1871-1947), a railway worker, and Marie Pervillé (1873-1960), René Bellanger...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
Fantasy with Flowers 4
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 ...
Acrylic, Oil Pastel, Archival Paper
Benavente Solis original expressionist acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
original expressionist acrylic painting. Framed During its first exhibition in Paris, the French press catalogs it like "The Catalan Sorolla". Honorary Member of the MECOART (Medit...
Wood, Acrylic
Sun, Sails, Sea
Located in Zofingen, AG
NOT STRETCHED. You'll receive it rolled, in a TUBE. Ready for stretching. I recommend stretching your painting in a local custom framing shop or gallery. It will be the most affordab...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$862Sale Price|20% Off
1950's French Expressionist Oil Green Woodland Forest Landscape Oil on Canvas
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Green Landscape French School, mid 20th century oil painting on canvas, unframed painting: 9.5 x 12.5 inches condition: overall very good
Canvas, Oil
"Banksy war"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
A painting as a prophetic thought. A philosophical perspective on the sum of actions, the essence of humanity, and the future of the entire race. My images in my paintings come true ...
Oil
Fantasy with Flowers 29
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
$974Sale Price|41% Off
Barcelona Fishmonger La Rambla – Catalan Expressionist Oil canvas Painting 1970s
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Artist: Manuel Capdevila i Massana (1910–2006) Title: La Peixatera, La Rambla Date: c.1975 Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 65 × 81 cm (25.6 × 31.9 in) Signature: Signed Framing: Un...
Canvas, Oil
Coral poppies
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've depicted vibrant coral poppies blooming vigorously against a serene, softly blended background. The contrast between the vivid red hues of the flowers and the ...
Canvas, Oil
Corsican Shore
Located in Sheffield, MA
Émile Marie Beaume French, 1888-1967 Corsican Shore Oil on Canvas 18 ⅛ by 21 ⅝ in, w/ frame 25 ½ by 29 ¼ in Signed lower right French painter, lithographer, engraver and fresco art...
Oil
Venice 2
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've merged the vibrancy of acrylics with the depth of oils to capture the tranquil essence of Venice. The interplay of light and shadow, realism and impressionism,...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Coral Poppies 30Х21
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vivid oil painting, I've captured the wild essence of poppies swaying with a liveliness that echoes the pulse of nature itself. Employing strokes influenced by impressionism ...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Spring morning
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I set out to capture the fleeting beauty of a spring morning. Using expressive brushstrokes and a blend of impressionistic light play, the painting evokes the serene y...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Capri Landscape Painting, Expressionist Gouache, Framed, Circa 1900
Located in Genève, GE
Work on paper Gilded wooden frame with glass window 66 x 71 x 2.5 cm This painting depicts a magnificent coastal view of a rocky beach, incorporating a fascinating play of texture...
Gouache
Romance in Paris 55X40 oil on canvas
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've captured the essence of love and beauty inspired by the enchanting city of Paris. The vivid, soft brushstrokes of the blooming roses in the foreground are ...
Canvas, Oil
Silver Reflections, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Rain falls steadily across the city, wrapping the waterfront in a veil of silver and grey. Thick clouds drift low above the skyline, and the tallest skyscrapers...
Acrylic
$521Sale Price|20% Off
Provence Fishing Harbour French Expressionist Original Painting
By Akos Biro
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
AKOS BIRO (HUNGARIAN 1911-2002) watercolour / gouache, size: 9.75 x 6.25 inches Beautifully colourful, original painting by the very popular and highly regarded Hungarian/ French pa...
Oil Pastel, Gouache
After the snow
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've embraced the tranquil solitude that comes after a snowfall. The soft purples and blues against the muted earth tones reflect the serene atmosphere and flee...
Canvas, Oil
Magnolia in bloom
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this piece, I sought to capture the ephemeral beauty of nature's awakening. Each brushstroke embodies the vivacity and energy of new beginnings, weaving a dance of color ...
Canvas, Oil
Love and umbrellas 60X80 oil painting
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've intertwined expressionism with impressionist touches to capture a couple's serene walk under a vibrantly hued autumnal canopy. The realism of the wet path ...
Canvas, Oil
Pink sunset by the river
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this oil painting, I've captured a tranquil riverside at dusk, evoking serenity. The brushstrokes blend expressionism with a touch of impressionism, creating a scene that's both ...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
Benavente Solis 8.6.2. Campo de Mallorca original expressionist acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
original expressionist acrylic painting. Framed During its first exhibition in Paris, the French press catalogs it like "The Catalan Sorolla". Honorary Member of the MECOART (Medit...
Wood, Acrylic
Venetian Gondolas 4
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I captured the tranquil essence of Venetian gondolas swaying gently in the water. Through expressive brushstrokes and vibrant blues, I aimed to evoke peaceful reflecti...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Bird on a branch (Cyornis rubeculoides)
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, infused with expressionism and realism, I captured the vivid essence and delicate poise of a small bird perched on a branch. The soft, blended background in gre...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$1,302Sale Price|20% Off
French Mid Century Interior Wood Burner Stove Still Life Oil Painting Framed
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title French Mid Century Interior Wood Burner Stove Still Life Oil Painting Framed Key Details Artist: French School, mid 20th century, signed Title: Inter...
Oil
$573Sale Price|41% Off
Mediterranean Woman in Blue Interior Portrait Spanish Post Impressionist Oil
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Mediterranean Woman in Blue Interior Portrait – Spanish Post Impressionist Oil Painting – Expressive Figurative Seated Female Artist: Pilar Margenat (Spanish, born 1939) Title: Woma...
Canvas, Oil
Benavente Solis. Beach. Mallorca- original expressionist watercolor
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Beach. Mallorca- original expressionist watercolor painting. virtual framed Work of the Spanish artist BENAVENTE SOLIS. Watercolor on paper. Perfect state During its first exhib...
Ink, Watercolor
Walk under umbrella 40X30 oil
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've captured a serene stroll, both playful and introspective. The vibrant umbrella stands against the soothing backdrop, a dance of color and light, invoking a...
Canvas, Oil
Expressionist Gouache and Watercolour Study for 'Alexander and His Army'.
Located in Cotignac, FR
French late 20th century watercolour and gouache study for the series 'Alexander and His Army' by Stephane Lovighi-Bourgogne. Presented in plain wood frame. A strong and forceful de...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
Fantasy with Flowers 5
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Fantasy with Flowers" (series of 200+ pictures) paper 54x40cm 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
Dreamscape, Oil Painting
By Gary Leonard
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This painting features a woman as the central subject, depicted with bold textures and spontaneous brushstrokes. Her white dress against the deep blue backgro...
Oil
Spring in the garden
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this emotive oil creation, I infused the essence of spring's renewal. Each brushstroke embodies the fresh bloom's vibrant dance, with a palette that whispers the tranquility of n...
Canvas, Oil
$660Sale Price|32% Off
Les Brindilles, Mid-Century Oil on Board, Expressionist Style, Signed
Located in Cotignac, FR
Mid-Century oil on board by 20th century artist Ahlan Achoy, signed bottom left. Ahlan Achoy was known for his figurative art and portraiture often in the cubist style. This colourf...
Oil, Board
Sardines UNDERWATER PAINTING was created underwater at the depth of 7.1m
Located in Zofingen, AG
This mesmerizing piece, "Sardines", was painted entirely underwater at a depth of 7.1 meters by artist and professional diver Olga Nikitina. Executed in her signature underwater impr...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
E. Gert Fruit Still Life Painting w/Pitcher & Candelabra
By Edith Gert
Located in San Francisco, CA
Beautiful fruit still life painting w/pitcher & candelabra by Danish artist Edith Gert (1906-1983)
Canvas, Oil
Water lily
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I sought to capture the ethereal blend of nature and the human spirit. Using oil paints, I layered textures and colors to create a surreal, vintage atmosphere where th...
Canvas, Oil
A meadow of flowering herbs
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this oil painting, I sought to capture the ephemeral beauty of a wildflower meadow at dusk. Employing a blend of impressionism and realism, I allowed my brushstrokes to d...
Canvas, Oil
Sea, Boats
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this artwork, I've captured the vibrant dance of light on water, blending impressionist strokes with the emotive dynamism of expressionism. Using oils, I layered colors to evoke t...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
"Compadres", Abstract, Expressionist, Green, Blue, Oil Pastel, Oil Painting
By Anita Loomis
Located in Franklin, MA
“Compadres” is a 50 x 40 inch oil painting on canvas by Anita Loomis. A work from her “Couples” series, this vibrantly colored abstract composition in cool blue, green, violet palette with pops of warm orange, captures a moment with two dear souls connecting. It speaks to unspoken bonds and deep friendships in lives shared. With a painting style that hints at Loomis’s stained-glass past as well as her appreciation of European expressionist painting and cartoon animation, her active painting surface is rich with symbols and distinctive marks. "Compadres" includes elements drawn in oil pastel. This painting is signed on the back and on the left gallery edge. Anita Loomis is a painter who works from her studio in Kittery, Maine. Communication is the underpinning focus of her oeuvre. For the “Tomorrowland” series, each painting offers semi-abstract settings with unusual plant and animal life thriving in spaces with simple architectural forms and structures. Through this series of paintings, the artist asks what possible new species will evolve as the Earth changes. Anita Loomis creates paintings that explore facets of human dialogue and relationships. Through painting, humor, and a deep curiosity about human imperfection, she investigates what it means to navigate communication with people who see the world through different cultural lenses. Loomis paints to shine a light on the common threads that connect our human experiences and spotlight the value of empathy. Loomis earned her BA in Studio Art from Framingham State University in Massachusetts, and her MA with a concentration in Arts Management from the University of Central Florida. She worked in the field of architectural stained glass for fifteen years and has focused on painting since 2004. She lives and works in Kittery, Maine. Her work has been exhibited at Miller White Gallery, South Dennis, MA; Fountain Street Gallery, Boston, MA, and various exhibitions in New England, Pennsylvania...
Canvas, Oil, Oil Pastel
$36,677Sale Price|20% Off
Mother's portrait. 1917, oil on canvas, 60x50 cm
By Romans Suta
Located in Riga, LV
Mother's portrait. 1917, oil on canvas, 60x50 cm With certificate of authenticity Romans Suta Born on April 28, 1896 in the vicinity of Cesis (Latvia), died on July 14, 1944 in T...
Canvas, Oil
Venetians Gondolas 2
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this artwork, I poured my reverence for the rhythmic dance of Venetian gondolas. The vibrant blue hues and expressive strokes embody the fluidity and reflective beauty of...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic