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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.

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Style: Expressionist
Cherries
Cherries

Cherries

Located in Zofingen, AG

In creating this oil painting, I wanted to convey the lush vibrancy and intimate simplicity of nature through the lens of expressionism mixed with realism. I chose cherries as the su...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

R. Poch  retrato familiar  acrylic painting
R. Poch  retrato familiar  acrylic painting

R. Poch retrato familiar acrylic painting

By Ramon Poch

Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL

149 acrylic painting Born in Badalona (Barcelona). Photographer and advertising film director. Founding partner of the advertising production company La Cosa de las Peliculas: He ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Happy New Year 2 !
Happy New Year 2 !

Happy New Year 2 !

Located in Zofingen, AG

Embracing the vibrancy of pop art and the simplicity of primitivism, my creation merges joyful naiveté with hints of impressionistic texture. In this painting, crafted with acrylic a...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

HAPPY NEW YEAR !
HAPPY NEW YEAR !

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this piece, I've melded the warmth of acrylics with the depth of oils to capture a whimsical holiday moment. It's a playful embrace of pop art and naïveté, with a hint of primitiv...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Sunny Nectar for Hummingbirds
Sunny Nectar for Hummingbirds

Sunny Nectar for Hummingbirds

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this oil painting, I aimed to capture the fleeting beauty of nature's interactions. Using vibrant colors and dynamic brush strokes typical of expressionism and impressionism, I hi...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Bird in a Blooming Garden
Bird in a Blooming Garden

Bird in a Blooming Garden

Located in Zofingen, AG

In creating this piece, I was moved by the serene beauty of nature, capturing a moment where a small bird perches amid blooming flowers. The brush strokes and oils allowed me to expl...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Riverfront houses
Riverfront houses

Riverfront houses

Located in Genève, GE

Work on canvas Dimensions with frame : 103 x 81 x 6.5 cm Riverfront houses This magnificent work captures a serene winter landscape dominated by a frozen river, surrounded by red-roo...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Double Feature

Double Feature

By Jackie Felix

Located in Buffalo, NY

An original expressionist oil on canvas painting by American female artist Jackie Felix.

Category

1980s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

R. Poch  Jazz Quartet   acrylic painting
R. Poch  Jazz Quartet   acrylic painting

R. Poch Jazz Quartet acrylic painting

By Ramon Poch

Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL

7.-Jazz Quartet 100 x 80 cm acrylic painting Born in Badalona (Barcelona). Photographer and advertising film director. Founding partner of the advertising production company La Cos...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

American Modernist Oil Painting Nude Male on Beach WPA Artist Group of 10
American Modernist Oil Painting Nude Male on Beach WPA Artist Group of 10

American Modernist Oil Painting Nude Male on Beach WPA Artist Group of 10

By Ben-Zion Weinman

Located in Surfside, FL

Born in 1897, Ben-Zion Weinman celebrated his European Jewish heritage in his visual works as a sculptor, painter, and printmaker. Influenced by Spinoza, Knut Hamsun, and Wladyslaw Reymont, as well as Hebrew literature, Ben-Zion wrote poetry and essays that, like his visual work, attempt to reveal the deep “connection between man and the divine, and between man and earth.” An emigrant from the Ukraine, he came to the US in 1920. He wrote fairy tales and poems in Hebrew under the name Benzion Weinman, but when he began painting he dropped his last name and hyphenated his first, saying an artist needed only one name. Ben-Zion was a founding member of “The Ten: An Independent Group” The Ten” a 1930’s avant-garde group, Painted on anything handy. Ben-Zion often used cabinet...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

"Obsession" - Black, Red, and Fiery Orange Expressive Abstract Self Portrait
"Obsession" - Black, Red, and Fiery Orange Expressive Abstract Self Portrait

"Obsession" - Black, Red, and Fiery Orange Expressive Abstract Self Portrait

By Masri Hayssam

Located in Carmel, CA

Masri Hayssam (Lebanese-Italian, born 1965) "Obsession" 2022 Oil Paint, Acrylic Paint, Mixed Media, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the bottom left and the back of the paint...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars

They found the pike but it wasn’t alone
They found the pike but it wasn’t alone

They found the pike but it wasn’t alone

By Dorothy Fitzgerald

Located in Buffalo, NY

An original oil, oil stick and charcoal diptych painting on canvas by Contemporary female artist Dorothy Fitzgerald. This monumental work measures 60" (h) x 120" (w) This work was featured in the recent exhibition of The Corridors Gallery at Hotel Henry...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil

Philosopher
Philosopher

Philosopher

Located in Zofingen, AG

Series "THE ADVENTURES OF THE RED CAT RAMSES"    CAT WORLD  (500+) In my painting, I used acrylics and oils to express the playful yet philosophical reprieve of a colorful cat taking...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic

Loving Vincent Van Gogh, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Loving Vincent Van Gogh, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Loving Vincent Van Gogh, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Located in Yardley, PA

In crafting this vibrant tapestry of color, I tapped into a deep wellspring of emotion, allowing each stroke to be a reflection of life's fervent dance. The lush oil paints sing wi...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Yellow Sycamore
Yellow Sycamore

Yellow Sycamore

By Mark Lavatelli

Located in Buffalo, NY

An original oil on canvas painting on panel by American contemporary artist Mark Lavatelli.

Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Vintage American Nocturnal New York City Bridge Cityscape
Vintage American Nocturnal New York City Bridge Cityscape

Vintage American Nocturnal New York City Bridge Cityscape

By Simon Gaon

Located in Buffalo, NY

A gorgeous purple nocturnal New York cityscape. Beautifully framed in a silver gilt wooden floater frame. Measuring: 19 by 25 inches overall and 18 by 24 inches image alone. Excellen...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Strawberries 30X21
Strawberries 30X21

Strawberries 30X21

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this painting, I've endeavored to capture the lush vibrancy of strawberries using bold, expressive strokes that echo the chiaroscuro techniques of realism yet blend the vivid, atm...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Lovers At Sunset 1, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Lovers At Sunset 1, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Lovers At Sunset 1, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Located in Yardley, PA

" Lovers At Sunset" is a series of 3 designs, romantic paintings of embraced lovers man and woman. The paintings are made on stretched canvas, painted edges and ready to hang. The co...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

West Wind, Oil Painting
West Wind, Oil Painting

West Wind, Oil Painting

By George Peebles

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Tall beach grass stretches across the foreground, with a small pool of water reflecting the sky. In the distance, layers of sand and sea stack into soft, hori...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Parade Large Oil Painting
Parade Large Oil Painting

Parade Large Oil Painting

By Jürgen Görg

Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL

"Parade" Oil, graphite on linen canvas, canvas 46x39 with frame 63x55. Jurgen Gorg was born in 1951 in​ Dernbach Germany. His formative years were spent in Koblentz, before moving ...

Category

1980s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil, Graphite

Blue Tulips
Blue Tulips

Blue Tulips

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this vibrant piece, I passionately layer acrylics, oil pastels, and colored pencils to capture the dynamic essence of nature's rebirth through tulips. My brush strokes breathe lif...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Satin Paper, Oil Pastel

Loving Vincent Van Gogh, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Loving Vincent Van Gogh, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Located in Yardley, PA

In crafting this vibrant tapestry of color, I tapped into a deep wellspring of emotion, allowing each stroke to be a reflection of life's fervent dance. The lush oil paints sing with...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Mid 20th Century French Expressionist Oil Elegant Lady looking over Moonlit Lake
Mid 20th Century French Expressionist Oil Elegant Lady looking over Moonlit Lake

Mid 20th Century French Expressionist Oil Elegant Lady looking over Moonlit Lake

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Artist/ School: French School, circa 1950's Title: an expressionist painting depicting an elegant lady overlooking a moonlit lake view. Medium: oil on board, framed Framed: 13 x...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Loving Vincent Van Gogh, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Loving Vincent Van Gogh, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Loving Vincent Van Gogh, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Located in Yardley, PA

warm friendship faithful love the sunshine In crafting this vibrant tapestry of color, I tapped into a deep wellspring of emotion, allowing each stroke to be a re...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Dynamic abstraction, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Dynamic abstraction, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Dynamic abstraction, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Located in Yardley, PA

The artist opens a new series of works with this beautiful painting. When we peer at this picture, we seem to be immersed in the thicket of a dense forest located on the slope of a m...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Baltic seacoast
Baltic seacoast

Baltic seacoast

Located in Zofingen, AG

In my creation, I've imbued the serene yet powerful essence of the seaside. The brushstrokes embody the dynamic nature of the waves, contrasting with the steadfastness of the shore. ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

Vanishing Point, Oil Painting
Vanishing Point, Oil Painting

Vanishing Point, Oil Painting

By Kristen Brown

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Deep blue tones envelop a blurred San Francisco cityscape, evoking a dreamlike memory of a fleeting moment. The triangular panel enhances the composition’s un...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Sunny terrace
Sunny terrace

Sunny terrace

Located in Zofingen, AG

I poured my heart into creating this giclee print, a vivid dance of color and light that celebrates the serene beauty of nature. Inspired by the interplay of expressionism and impres...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Located in Yardley, PA

bright new day I paint the flowers that are plugged in my house, which makes me feel pure and gentle every day when I wake up. A great feeling! :: Painting :: Expressionism :: Thi...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Still life  1993. Oil on canvas, 100х81 сm
Still life  1993. Oil on canvas, 100х81 сm

Still life 1993. Oil on canvas, 100х81 сm

Located in Riga, LV

Still life. 1993. Oil on canvas, 100х81 сm Colorful still life with flowers in vase, bottle and apples Valdis Bush (1924-2014) studied at the Art academy of Latvia (1945 – 1950), h...

Category

1990s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Still-life with lilac
Still-life with lilac

Still-life with lilac

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this piece, I sought to capture the delicate dance of light and shadow, the gentle caress of the blossoms, and the tranquility that comes from nature's beauty. As I chose my palet...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

Scarlet Sails
Scarlet Sails

Scarlet Sails

Located in Zofingen, AG

As an artist, I poured my spirit into this artwork, invoking the raw feelings of freedom and adventure with each stroke. The vivid hues emanate a sense of hope and endless possibilit...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

Sunflower
Sunflower

Sunflower

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this piece, I've captured the vibrant essence of nature's optimism. The sunflower exudes warmth and energy, its golden petals reaching towards the light. The expressive brush stro...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

Along the golden alley
Along the golden alley

Along the golden alley

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this piece, I aimed to capture the serene beauty of autumn, where the whisper of falling leaves and the soft, golden light create a peaceful retreat from the world. The lone figur...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

Dandelions
Dandelions

Elena LukinaDandelions, 2014

$372Sale Price|26% Off

Dandelions

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this artwork, I've aimed to capture the transient beauty of nature, an expression of life's fleeting moments. Employing gentle strokes and a harmonious palette, I convey the delic...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

LOVELY MUSIC
LOVELY MUSIC

Stephen ShortridgeLOVELY MUSIC

$3,500Sale Price|30% Off

LOVELY MUSIC

By Stephen Shortridge

Located in Aventura, FL

Original oil on canvas painting. Hand signed on front; signed and titled on verso by the artist. Canvas is stretched. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity ...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mother's portrait. 1917, oil on canvas, 60x50 cm
Mother's portrait. 1917, oil on canvas, 60x50 cm

Mother's portrait. 1917, oil on canvas, 60x50 cm

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...

Category

1910s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Under the Blue Sky, Original Painting
Under the Blue Sky, Original Painting

Under the Blue Sky, Original Painting

By Diana Elena Chelaru

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Two figures bask in the light of the cosmos, their curvaceous forms mirroring the flow of celestial bodies. The varying blue tones represent the sky before nigh...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Daydream Moments, Oil Painting
Daydream Moments, Oil Painting

Daydream Moments, Oil Painting

By George Peebles

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A solitary cloud in a bright blue sky stretches over the sea. The water meets the shore with small waves rolling in. The grass adds texture in the foreground. H...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

An Angel's Gift
An Angel's Gift

An Angel's Gift

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this artwork, I've poured my heart into capturing the essence of serenity and divine grace. Through soft brushstrokes and a tranquil palette, the angel embodies a celestial presence, her gaze offering comfort and the apple in her hands symbolizing the gift of life and knowledge. The flowing robes and gentle clouds convey a sense of peace, inviting the viewer to pause and reflect. It's a piece that carries a comforting energy, ready to instill a sense of calm and contemplation in any home. Author's giclee of the original oil painting by Elena Lukina "An Angel...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

'Dusk, BulBarrow, Dorset',  Original oil painting, signed  c2004.
'Dusk, BulBarrow, Dorset',  Original oil painting, signed  c2004.

'Dusk, BulBarrow, Dorset', Original oil painting, signed c2004.

Located in Frome, Somerset

'BullBarrow at Dusk' by Jan Howarth Jones. circa 2002. oil on board. Oak glazed frame 52.5 cm x 52.5cm Painting 31cmx 34cm. A fine study of light and landscape in her native count...

Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Gentle roses
Gentle roses

Gentle roses

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this piece, I've captured the tender essence of blooms, imbuing the canvas with a sense of serenity and timeless beauty. Each stroke embodies the dance between light and shadow, c...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

Where I dream to be
Where I dream to be

Where I dream to be

By Rachael Dalzell

Located in Coltishall, GB

An impressive and vibrant painting inspired by Rachaels mediterranean travels. It captures the feeling of hot sunny island walks where there is always a beautiful view around every c...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Wood, Canvas, Acrylic

Jamaica II, Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas by Robert Bengtsson
Jamaica II, Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas by Robert Bengtsson

Jamaica II, Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas by Robert Bengtsson

By Robert Bengtsson

Located in Long Island City, NY

An oil painting by Robert Bengtsson from 1966. An abstract expressionist style painting of amorphous shapes in shades of yellow, faint recognition of the word 'Jamaica' in background...

Category

1960s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Beautiful Rose Garden by the Sea
Beautiful Rose Garden by the Sea

Beautiful Rose Garden by the Sea

Located in Zofingen, AG

In crafting this serene seascape, I layered vibrant oils to capture the tranquil interplay of rose-laden breezes with the gentle splash of distant sails. I aimed to express a synthes...

Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Colorful French Expressionist/ Fauvist Oil Painting Busy City Square  Figures
Colorful French Expressionist/ Fauvist Oil Painting Busy City Square  Figures

Colorful French Expressionist/ Fauvist Oil Painting Busy City Square Figures

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Artist/ School: French School, circa 1970's, expressionist/ fauvist style. Title: Busy city street/ square scene with figures Medium: oil painting on canvas, unframed canvas: 19...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

In the meadow. 1931. Oil on canvas, 25x34 cm
In the meadow. 1931. Oil on canvas, 25x34 cm

In the meadow. 1931. Oil on canvas, 25x34 cm

Located in Riga, LV

Janis Pupols (1886 – 1956) Graduated Landscape studio of V. Purvitis in Latvia Art academy (1927). He took part in exhibitions since 1925. Artist painted landscapes in different t...

Category

1930s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Morning garden with rhododendrons
Morning garden with rhododendrons

Morning garden with rhododendrons

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this painting, I've merged the vivid, emotive strokes of expressionism with the subtle, light play of impressionism, all grounded in realism's tangible forms. Using oil paints, I ...

Category

2010s 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.