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.
"Tender embrace" Contemporary figurative expressionist oil painting of two women
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Tender Embrace" — Original Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting Depicting Two Women by French Artist Natalya Mougenot "Tender Embrace" is an original contemporary figurative oil pa...
Canvas, Oil
$1,100
City at Dusk, Istanbul, Expressionistic Oil on Cardboard, Signed 27 x 34 cm
Located in Stockholm, Stockholm
Istanbul at dusk. Oil on cardboard. Monogrammed. Artist unidentified, possibly Swedish. Early twentieth century. The painting depicts Istanbul at dusk, with the city's domes and slen...
Oil, Cardboard
"The Quiet Resonance of Roses" Oil Painting – Contemporary Impressionism
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 the fleeting moments of nature. The composition captures delicate pink rose petals interacting with the deep vibration of a rounded blue vase, transforming a classical motif into a psychological mirror. Executed in a complex technique through multiple fluid layers directly on premium linen canvas, the artwork features a rich texture with a signature optical haze and a soft atmospheric glow across the surface. Designed with a sense of spatial balance, the painting organically complements high-end modern interior styling, architectural design projects, and private fine art collections. Infused with the conceptual sound frequency of 432 Hz resonance, the rich, textured surface functions as a vehicle for meditative calm and structured silence. For premium space visualization, this vertical oil painting is perfectly scaled above a white or marble classic fireplace, a luxury gold console table, and looks exceptional paired with a modern white sofa, a luxury leather armchair...
Canvas, Oil
Fantasy with Flowers 7, Expressionist Acrylic on Archival Paper, 2010+
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 ...
Acrylic, Archival Paper, Oil Pastel
Snowman with a flashlight 30X25
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In my painting, I've poured my soul into capturing the whimsical joy and innocent warmth of winter's magic. Brushstrokes of oil dance across the canvas, framing a cheerful snowman as...
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
$2,500
1950's Expressionist Judaica Painting "I Lit All My Candles" Hanukkah Menorah
By Hildegard Rath
Located in Surfside, FL
Hildegard Rath, (1909-1994) painter, author, teacher, and lecturer, Born in Wurttemberg, Germany, in the Black Forest region of Germany. Hildegard Rath became a painter of landscape, portraits, still lifes, and marine subjects and also a muralist. Her father was a bank president, her mother a sculptor, writer, and illustrator of children's books. At the age of 15, Miss Rath painted her first portrait in oil as a birthday present for her father and thereafter every opportunity for study was given to her. She went to art school at the Atelier House in Stuttgart, Germany and at the Akademie der Bildenden Kunste in Berlin. She studied with Lotte Laserstein...
Canvas, Oil
Olja Ivanjicki "Florence or Hell of l'Inconnue De La Seine" Oil Painting c.1965
Located in San Francisco, CA
Olja Ivanjicki "Florence or Hell of l'Inconnue De La Seine" original oil circa 1965 Original oil on board. Dimensions 26" wide x 42" high. The frame m...
Oil
Portrait of a Woman in a Fur Coat, Signed and Dated, French Expressionist School
Located in Pistoia, IT
"Portrait of a Woman in a Fur Coat"—French Expressionism, signed and dated. The painting, an oil on canvas, depicts a portrait of a young woman in the figurative style of the early 2...
Canvas, Oil
Large Scale Abstracted Still Life with Fish, in the Style Of Henri Matisse
By D.S. Silver
Located in Soquel, CA
Large Scale Abstracted Still Life with Fish, in the Style Of Henri Matisse Bright, ocean-like, tropical colors in this abstract with fish in the style of Henri Matisse by D.S. Silve...
Canvas, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
The Geometry of Shimmering Light, Impressionist Oil Painting, Canvas
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"The Geometry of Shimmering Light" by Elena Lukina (2022), from the series "The Architecture of Fragility". In this artwork, the artist transcends the traditional botanical subject, ...
Canvas, Oil
$712Sale Price|20% Off
Illustration Style, Exotic Flamingo Bouquet, Tropical Flowers in Red on Paper
Located in Barcelona, ES
This vibrant painting captures the striking beauty and elegant forms of Flamingo flowers. Sweeping brushstrokes and vivid colors bring these flowers to life, highlighting their styli...
India Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor
Vibrant Bowl of Cherries Oil Painting 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...
Canvas, Oil
$3,131
Eventide by Richard K Blades. Oil painting of the sea at sunset after a storm.
Located in Coltishall, GB
Richard K Blades is an expressive landscape painter working in the English Romantic tradition. He follows in a long line of artists such as Turner, Constable, Seago, Daubigney and C...
Oil, Board
Mujer en reposo - Óleo sobre tela - Año 2005 - Sin enmarcar
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Firmado en la parte trasera y fechado del año 2005 Se presenta sin enmarcar la pintura Buen estado de conservación Medidas obra: 97 cm. de altura x 91 cm. de ancho ::::::::::::::...
Oil
Early Autumn, Expressionist Still Life Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 2023
Located in Edinburgh, GB
For me, early fall is associated first and foremost with deep, vibrant colors—with the appearance of juicy fruits and colorful leaves… I was able to perfectly capture this very atmos...
Acrylic
$1,320Sale Price|20% Off
"Welsh Coast at Ogmore" by the Sea Original Watercolor
Located in Soquel, CA
"Welsh Coast at Ogmore" by the Sea Original Watercolor Grey tones dominate this rocky coastal painting by John Addyman (Wales, 1929-2006), characterized by his use of muted tones, pr...
Watercolor, Laid Paper
$1,560Sale Price|70% Off
“The Horse Race" #50 A Pierre Bosco (Italy/France, 1909-1993) circa 1950s
By Pierre Bosco
Located in SANTA FE, NM
“The Horse Race" #50 A Pierre Bosco, (1909-1993) Oil n canvas Signed lower right 12 x 15 inches “The savage art of Bosco bears its rudeness and its mystery. It is an art of pure ex...
Canvas, Oil
Girl. Portrait by Janis Rikmanis. Oil on plywood, 70 x 50 cm. Signed
Located in Riga, LV
Janis Rikmanis (1901.5.IV – 1968.25.III) graduated Figurative painting studio of Latvia Art academy (1931). He took part in exhibitions since 1929. Self-exhibitions were made in Riga...
Oil, Cardboard
Bouquet of Daffodils, Still Life Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 2026
By Roman Dub
Located in Edinburgh, GB
The meaning of this flower is extraordinarily deep and goes far beyond associations with egoism. First and foremost, the daffodil is a powerful symbol of rebirth and eternal life, fo...
Acrylic
Red city
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Rendered in pulsating red and blue tones, this urban landscape serves as a powerful visual metaphor for existential loneliness within a metropolis. The sharp contrast between the lon...
Oil
$360Sale Price|20% Off
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
"Secret Garden" (2023) by Leigh Ann Van Fossan, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Leigh Ann Van Fossan's "Secret Garden" (2023) is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a path surrounded by colorful flowers and trees arching over. Van Fossan was born in...
Canvas, Oil
Feathered Curators, Impressionist Animal Painting, Oil on Canvas, 2026
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Feathered Curators. Two feathered observers seem frozen amidst thick strokes of color, intently watching the scene around them. A palette knife transforms their silhouettes into a bl...
Oil
Crane kiss 40X80 oil painting
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've captured an intimate dance of grace and elegance. The natural fluidity of movement and the tender connection between these creatures embody harmony and ser...
Canvas, Oil
$1,801Sale 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
$1,638
The call of the ancestors. Family painting, mother and daughter, green artwork
Located in Oslo, NO
“The Call of the Ancestors” is part of Alter Ego series, inspired by Carl Jung’s psychology. The oil painting shows a young woman and her mother in a rural landscape. The scene is q...
Canvas, Oil
Night at the Fair Oil on Board, Mid-Century Modernist Scene
Located in Genève, GE
Dimension with frame : 43,8 x 58,8 x 3,4 cm. Signed "A. Carducci" in the lower right corner. This oil on board depicts a lively evening promenade at a brightly illuminated fairgroun...
Oil, Cardboard
Irises
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil on canvas, I've poured my soul into capturing the essence of growth and resilience. Each brushstroke narrates a dance of light and shadow, embodying the juxtaposition of ...
Canvas, Oil
Sakura in the city park – Impressionist Landscape Oil Painting Wall Art
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
This vibrant oil painting is an evocative landscape painting titled Sakura in the city park created by the internationally registered artist Elena Lukina in 2022.As a comforting land...
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
$4,350
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
Mid 20th Century After Franz Marc German Expressionism Red Horses Oil Canvas
By Franz Marc
Located in Stockholm, SE
This mid-20th-century oil on canvas by Swedish artist C. Landin is an expressive hand-painted recreation of the famous work "Grazing Horses IV" (also known as "The Red Horses" or "Di...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Zimbeaux's Garden by Graydon Foulger, Original Oil 30x36"
Located in Loveland, CO
Zimbeaux's Garden by Graydon Foulger 30x35" image size (37x43" including the frame) Original Oil on Canvas, Signed lower right as pictured. The painting demonstrates the artist's hig...
Oil
$1,629Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Canvas
Saul Raskin “The Binding of Isaac”
By Saul Raskin
Located in San Francisco, CA
Saul Raskin: 1878-1966. Well, listed Russian American artist who has auction results as high as $8750. He’s most famous for painting biblical scenes such as this beautiful piece. I’v...
Oil
$2,680Sale Price|20% Off
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
Between Thoughts. Richard K Blades. Painting of sea at sunset. Turner influence.
Located in Coltishall, GB
A warm sunset over Norfolk's Cromer beach. Between Thoughts is a sublime oil painting that captures the mesmerizing tranquility of a sunset over thw North Sea. The horizon is ablaze...
Oil, Board
$2,200Sale Price|20% Off
Hope Not Lost - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Abstraction, Balloon
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
Allow Yourself to Bloom, Impressionist Still Life, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Edinburgh, GB
I have a special connection with chrysanthemums. Flowers with a rich, slightly bitter scent, their own rhythm, and a quiet sense of wholeness. They remind me of the right to take up ...
Acrylic
$2,100
"Softly at Ease" - Impressionist Horse Portrait and Human Figure, Oil Painting
By Jill Soukup
Located in Denver, CO
"Softly at Ease" About the artist: Jill Soukup was born in Buffalo, New York. Shortly thereafter, her family moved to Colorado, where she still resides. Jill’s affinity for horses ...
Canvas, Oil
$523
"Blooming cactus" Contemporary botanical expressive oil painting on canvas
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Blooming cactus" Contemporary Botanical Oil Painting on Canvas — 30 × 40 × 1.6 cm / 11.81 × 15.75 × 0.63 in This expressive contemporary botanical oil painting by French artist Na...
Canvas, Oil
$796
"Endless Blue" Contemporary figurative acrylic painting of a woman on paper
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Endless Blue” is an original contemporary female figurative painting by French artist Natalya Mougenot, an expressive woman-on-the-sea artwork painted in acrylic on heavyweight prof...
Paper, Acrylic
$3,840Sale Price|39% Off
20th Century Bucks County Colorful Landscape Painting, Italian artist
By Louis Bosa
Located in Beachwood, OH
Louis Bosa (American, 1905–1981) Bucks County, 1934 Oil on canvas Signed and dated lower right 17.5 x 21.5 inches 25.5 x 29 inches, framed Born in Codroipo, a small village only a f...
Oil
Seed of Joy - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women, African
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, Oil
Sailboats, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original oil on canvas on wooden stretchers, signed on the back. Certificate of authenticity included. :: Painting :: Expressionism :: This piece comes with an official certificate...
Oil
Light the Christmas Tree! 30X30
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In my creation, I've captured the essence of holiday delight. Through the vibrant strokes of oil, I've woven a tale of innocence and joy. The snowman, adorned with a playful red scar...
Oil
"Untitled"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Soul in bloom, A vibrant expressionist portrait that masterfully weaves human emotion with the vivid beauty of nature. Painted with bold, textured brushstrokes and dynamic palette ch...
Canvas, Acrylic
"The Fragile Rhythm of Petals" Horizontal Oil Painting – 2017
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
This original horizontal oil painting from the series "The Silent Pulse of Decadence" explores the tension between structure and fading life. The composition presents a sharp contras...
Canvas, Oil
Signed 1930s French Expressionist Mountain Forest Landscape
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage French expressionist landscape. Oil on board. Signed and dated "Marchand" lower right. Overall dimensions: 22 x 18 inches. Artwork alone: 18.5 x 14.5 inches.
Oil
Mint Freshness. Flower and Butterfly"
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Mint Freshness. Flower and Butterfly" by Volskaya Lilia. 350 g thick cardboard. Pastart design. The back of the painting is reinforced with 3-layer cardboard. The painting has a han...
Oil, Mixed Media, Cardboard
Woman in a Red Dress
By Béla Czóbel
Located in Chicago, IL
In an article published in Le Figaro (Paris, March 19, 1964), Raymond Cogniat comments on Czóbel’s unique artistic style. He writes: “...Czóbel, who arrived Paris in the first years...
Canvas, Oil
$682
What are you dreaming about? Kind, warm, empathy, inner voice, friendship, pet
Located in Oslo, NO
A girl stands with her eyes closed, her deer beside her—two beings breathing in the same silence, bound by something older than words. This is an oil painting from "Alter Ego" seri...
Oil, Canvas
$512
"Cactus Glow" Contemporary impressionist botanical acrylic painting on paper
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Cactus Glow" is an original contemporary botanical acrylic painting by French artist Natalya Mougenot, created in her expressive language of color, authenticity, and emotional truth...
Paper, Acrylic
$218Sale 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
Joseph Solman, "Girl Reading" Expressionist Interior Figure Painting
Located in Rockport, MA
Painting size without frame: 8"x12" Painting size with frame: 12"x16" Painting is signed lower left corner. An expressive interior portrait by renowned American modernist Joseph So...
Oil, Board
Abstract III, Painting, Oil on Canvas
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...
Oil
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Waiting for My Name to Return - 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, Acrylic
$1,200Sale 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