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.
The Arms of Winter. By Rachael Dalzell. Acyrlic on Canvas. Winter scene. Framed.
Located in Coltishall, GB
’The Arms of Winter' is an impressive painting inspired by the North Norfolk Broads and beautiful countryside near to where Rachael lives. Rachael Dalzell’s paintings are colourful ...
Canvas, Wood, Acrylic
"RIDING AT DAWN" MODERN YET VINTAGE COWGIRL BRILLIANT COLORS
Located in San Antonio, TX
Debra Benditz Texas Artist Image Size: 48 x 36 Medium: Oil "Riding at Dawn" Cowgirl We will only ship in the Continental United State for posted shipping price. Debra Benditz Texas Artist Statement My oil paintings are a vibrant expression of the feminine and the can-do spirit of the Wild American West as embodied by my paternal grandmother and great-grandmother, both award-winning horsewomen. I use saturated colors, often found in nature, to interpret burgeoning growth, beauty and the human form especially of Jennie Pawson and Aeola Huston Mitchell, my cowgirl ancestors. I know these feisty women from stories I heard my father tell and from old photographs showing the time Jennie met Theodore Roosevelt, and another from 1901, when she was named a champion of the Cheyenne, Wyoming Frontier Days. As a child I spent hours on the floor of my grandfather’s music room as Enrico Caruso serenaded me from the Victrola. I gazed in awe at the tall bookcases, art-covered walls and my grandfather’s art nouveau postcard...
Oil
$8,982Sale Price|20% Off
Paris, Seine. 1918/19, oil on cardboard, 38x52 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Paris, Seine. 1918/19, oil on cardboard, 38x52 cm Signature located in bottom right corner Belay The certificate: M. Roland Souef at November 23, 2011 Pierre Savigny de Belay...
Oil, Cardboard
I. Mundo Sitges. Barcelona. vertical. original watercolor painting
By Ignasi Mundó
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
SITGES. Barcelona original watercolor painting. MUNDO Ignasi Ignasi Mundó trained at the School of La Lonja, with Joaquín Mir, Mariano Pidelaserra and Manolo Hugué. In 1945 he rece...
Paper, Watercolor
Red & Red 30X30 oil painting
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I've poured my fascination with color and light into every stroke, crafting a vibrant dialogue between form and space. The rich, warm reds anchor the composition, exud...
Canvas, Oil
Gentle roses 50X40 oil painting.
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I sought to capture the elegance and tranquility of nature's beauty with a touch of vintage allure. The brushstrokes convey both the softness and the vibrancy o...
Canvas, Oil
Shower at Night, Painting, Acrylic on Paper
Located in Yardley, PA
Acrylic work on archival quality paper depicting a man taking a shower at night. A faint light coming from an adjacent room. Done with the alla prima technique. The work would be v...
Acrylic
Roses in a blue vase 50X70 oil painting.
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
As the creator of this piece, I immersed myself in the beauty of nature's transience, capturing the ephemeral grace of roses in a dance with light and shadow. Through my oil paints, ...
Canvas, Oil
Valentine 50X40 oil painting.
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this fervent oil painting, I've channeled the vibrancy of passion and the tenderness of affection through a bouquet of luscious tulips cradled in a gleaming red vase. The expressi...
Canvas, Oil
Wildflowers 50X50 oil on canvas
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I aimed to capture the wild, untamed spirit of nature. Each stroke embodies the dance of the breeze through vibrant wildflowers, with expressive colors that e...
Canvas, Oil
Pond 60X40
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've captured the serenity of nature through vibrant hues and emotive brushstrokes. Each petal and leaf carries the essence of impressionist dreams, blending in...
Canvas, Oil
Sunflower 70X50
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil on canvas, I've poured my soul into capturing the vibrant essence of life. With bold strokes and vivid hues, I've embraced expressionism and realism to evoke a sense of w...
Canvas, Oil
Sunflower 50X40
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I've explored the juxtaposition of life's ephemerality and enduring warmth. The sunflower, despite its wilting state, is a vibrant focal point that offers a moment of ...
Canvas, Oil
Carnival Night 70X70
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
Carnival Night Venice, Carnival, masks, ladies in hats, Masquerade! What could be better to be in Venice on a festive Carnival night! Medieval costumes and dresses, beautiful ladies,...
Canvas, Oil
Delicate dandelions 30X40
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work symbolizes our wonderful, beautiful and fragile, like a crystal world. The magic field of solar dandelions from which it is impossible to take your eyes off. A short moment...
Canvas, Oil
Dandelions in flight 60X60
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this work, I've captured the ephemeral beauty of nature's cycle. I chose oils to convey the rich vibrancy and delicate dance of seeds on the wind. The artistry here lies in the dy...
Canvas, Oil
Fragment of a lawn of dandelions 50X70
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I reveled in the play of light and shadow amongst the vibrant dandelions and ethereal seed heads, capturing nature's fleeting beauty. With each brushstroke, I...
Canvas, Oil
Tenderness 40X30
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work symbolizes our wonderful, beautiful and fragile, like a crystal world. The magic field of solar dandelions from which it is impossible to take your eyes off. A short moment...
Canvas, Oil
San Martino Viewpoint Naples, Expressionist, Painting On Wood, Landscape
Located in Deddington, GB
San Martino Viewpoint, Naples, is an Original Painting by Eleanor Woolley. This Painting is inspired by travel memories and sketches. It depicts some tourists looking out over the h...
Oil
$2,030Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Riverfront Houses Oil Painting, Framed
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...
Oil, Canvas
Fantasy with Flowers 13
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
Lily Reflections, Original Painting on Canvas, Expressionist, Hand Signed
Located in Aventura, FL
Original mixed media painting on canvas. Hand signed on front; signed and titled on verso by the artist. Canvas is stretched. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of authe...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$12,106
British 20th Century oil painting of 'The promised land' by Thomas Saunders Nash
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
THOMAS SAUNDERS NASH (1891-1968) The promised land Oil on board 28 x 20 in. (71 x 50.8 cm.) Painter of figure compositions, religious subjects, l...
Oil, Board
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Oil Painting of a Man, Framed
By Henri Fehr
Located in Genève, GE
Work on canvas Golden wooden frame 51 x 42.5 x 4.5 cm
Oil
$1,307Sale Price|20% Off
Berries. 2016, oil on canvas, 46.5x55 cm
By Igor Maikov
Located in Riga, LV
Igor Maikov (1966) Education: 1981 - 1984 The Art Academy of Latvia 1973 - 1983 Salaspils Primary and Secondary School Exhibitions: 1994 - Group Exhibition «Rol-Art», Latvia ...
Canvas, Oil
Pilgrim’s Way from Holy Island
Located in Deddington, GB
original oil on canvas Image size: H:104 cm x W:104 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:104 cm x W:104 cm x D:4cm Sold Unframed Please note that insitu images are purely an ind...
Canvas, Oil
Lift Up and Let Go - Abstracted Colorful Figure Oil Painting
Located in Boston, MA
Lift Up and Let Go 75.0 x 67.0 x 2.0, 15.0 lbs Oil paint Hand signed by artist Artist's Commentary: "I painted this painting at a pivotal juncture in my life, and it represents l...
Oil
A goat with a black head., Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Igor Shulman
Located in Yardley, PA
Turns out there's a breed of sheep that has white wool and a black head. It looks so stylish, I couldn't pass it up. Here he is, look at him. But of course it's not that simple and...
Oil
$3,548Sale Price|20% Off
Fields. 1970's, oil on canvas, 47x69 cm
By Arijs Skride
Located in Riga, LV
Arijs Skride (1906.24.IX Madonna parish – 1987.22.XI Riga), painter. Arijs Skride was born into a farmer's family. Wife Gundega Vaska – graphic artist. At the age of 15, he passed ...
Canvas, Oil
$2,152Sale Price|20% Off
Mid Century French Expressionist Signed Oil Sun over Landscape with Cottage
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: French School, signed and dated Title: Expressionist landscape Medium: oil on board Size: 6.5 x 9 inches Provenance: private collection, France Condition: The ...
Oil
$4,085Sale Price|30% Off
"Model sitting" woman, Oil cm.40 x 50 1977
Located in Torino, IT
woman, Portrait, Blue, Yellow, 70s, Italian painter Edgardo CORBELLI (Turin, 1918 - 1989) From the traditional composition of the 1930s, the painting of Corbelli leads to technical ...
Canvas
$1,815
Mountain Top, Welsh Landscape Painting, Contemporary Textured Landscape Painting
Located in Deddington, GB
Mountain Top is an original landscape painting by Helen Howells. It was inspired by the mountain views of South Wales, where I truly feel at peace, amongst the astounding beauty of t...
Canvas, Oil
$2,614Sale Price|20% Off
About the bread. 1987, oil on cardboard, 81x99 cm
Located in Riga, LV
About the bread 1987, oil on cardboard, 81x99 cm Aleksandr Rodin (1922-2001) Painter Born in a family of farmers. Wife Rasma Lace - art scholar. Studied at the Stalingrad School of...
Oil, Cardboard
$1,540Sale Price|20% Off
Tulips on the black background. 1975, cardboard, oil, 50x39 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Tulips on the black background. Cardboard, oil, 50x39 cm Aleksandr Rodin (1922-2001) Painter Born in a family of farmers. Wife Rasma Lace - art schola...
Oil, Cardboard
$1,634Sale Price|20% Off
Tulips with a rainbow. Oil on canvas, 70x80 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Zita Sudnika, Tulips with a rainbow. 2007. Oil on canvas, 70x80 Vibrant and visually striking painting captures the beauty of red and yellow tulips arranged in a vase, positioned pr...
Canvas, Oil
Reeds and a transparent pond
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I explored the serene interplay of nature's elements with a tranquil pond as the focal point, where the fluid brush strokes and minimalist approach produce an ether...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
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
Golden Fields by the River, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
A large square abstracted landscape, light and atmospheric. Painted with the modern farm house and Hygge Scandinavian trend in mind, this artwork is decorative and neutral. It coveys...
Acrylic
Orli Ziv, Jerusalem pink atmosphere, spirituality
By Orli Ziv
Located in Tel Aviv, IL
Orli Ziv, Jerusalem Pink atmosphere, oil on canvas, Jerusalem, expressionism, Israeli artist, Israeli art
Oil, Pigment
$3,361Sale Price|20% Off
Flowers in vase. 1931. Oil on cardboard 45x50 cm
By Janis Pupols
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...
Oil, Cardboard
Marilyn smiles
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
This exuberant composition captures a blend of vivid emotions and iconic imagery. Using a vibrant palette of oils, I aimed to evoke a sense of joy and nostalgia, merging abstract and...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$803Sale Price|20% Off
Coast. Canvas, oil, 16x22 cm
By Janis Pupols
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...
Canvas, Oil
Fantasy with Flowers 6
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
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
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
$1,634Sale Price|20% Off
City landscape. Talsi. Cardboard, oil, 52.5x74 cm
Located in Riga, LV
City landscape. Talsi. Cardboard, oil, 52.5x74 cm Aleksandr Rodin (1922-2001) Painter Born in a family of farmers. Wife Rasma Lace - art scholar. Studied at the Stalingrad School of...
Oil, Cardboard
$410Sale Price|20% Off
In a small town. 1969, paper, watercolor, 36x48 cm
By Dzidra Bauma
Located in Riga, LV
In a small town. 1969, paper, watercolor, 36x48 cm Dzidra Bauma (1930) Dzidra Bauma works in watercolor technique. She paint figural compositions, portraits, landscapes, flowers an...
Paper, Watercolor
"Adagio" - Vertical expressionist female nude with a touch of pastel colors.
By E.C. Bell
Located in Miami, FL
Romantic and expressionist nude artwork on canvas.
Canvas, Acrylic
White sails
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've captured the serene yet vibrant essence of sailing. The expressive strokes and the blend of Impressionism with a dab of Realism invite you to feel the cool bre...
Canvas, Oil
$1,213Sale Price|20% Off
Old Riga motif. 1972. Paper, watercolor, 50x41 cm
By Janis Brekte
Located in Riga, LV
Old Riga motif 1972. Paper, watercolor, 50x41 cm The central focus of the artwork is on an old town, a historic district known for its antiquated architecture, cobbled streets, and...
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor
Diana (Ode to Van Dyke) female nude w blue tones brushstrokes
By Tom Bennett
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This colorful, textured , abstracted expressionist homage to a detail of the Van Dyke painting "Diana and the Nymph Discovered by Saturn", pays trib...
Canvas, Oil
$12,000
Jewish Mexican Avant Garde Fiesta of Guadalupe Expressionist Oil Painting
By Yonia Fain
Located in Surfside, FL
Genre: Avant-Garde Subject: Abstract Mexican Landscape Medium: Oil Surface: Canvas Country: Mexico Dimensions: Yonia Fain Oil, 1947 Although this oil painting’s subject is predom...
Canvas, Oil
$5,326Sale Price|20% Off
Where I dream to be
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...
Canvas, Wood, Acrylic
$1,338
Helen Howells, Light across the Estuary, Original Oil Painting, Seascape Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Helen Howells Light across the Estuary Original Oil Painting on Canvas Oil Paint on Canvas Canvas size: H 76 cm x W 102 cm x D 3.5cm Sold unfr...
Canvas, Oil
Joie de Vivre, Original painting, Mixed Media Eclectic Interior Art
By Julia Adams
Located in Deddington, GB
Joie de Vivre by Julia Adams is a large 90 x 90cm square interior painting on a deep edged 25mm canvas from her Interior Spaces series. The colours she has used are vibrant pinks/blu...
Mixed Media
$5,044Sale Price|24% Off
First Blossom
Located in Coltishall, GB
Inspired by Rachaels winter dog walks along the Norfolk Broads with her lovely dog Sandy. Rachael Dalzell's paintings are colourful and expressive. Her free and lively use of paint...
Canvas, Wood, Acrylic
A Cold Stillness
Located in Coltishall, GB
Inspired by Rachaels winter dog walks along the Norfolk Broads with her lovely dog Sandy. Rachael Dalzell's paintings are colourful and expressive. Her free and lively use of paint...
Canvas, Wood, Acrylic
The Artist III, Oil Painting, 1970 by Juan Garcia Ripolles
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Juan Garcia Ripolles, Spanish (1932 - ) Title: The Artist III Year: 1970 Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed l.r. Size: 19.5 in. x 24 in. (49.53 cm x 60.96 cm) Frame Size: 22 x 27 ...
Oil
Cheltenham Races, Horse Racing Art, Animal Art, Paintings of the Races
By Garth Bayley
Located in Deddington, GB
Cheltenham Races is an original painting by Garth Bayley Based on the Cheltenham races. Horses, Horseracing, sport, The 60 x 90 cm is the image size with extra for framing. The paint...
Oil, Archival Paper
$720Sale Price|20% Off
Port Provençal by Bürgisser - Oil on wood 27x35 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Oil on cardboard with frame. Total size with frame is 47x39 cm Artist from Zurich Switzerland, unknown from the gallery
Oil