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 Lobsters Oil Painting, Expressionist Style, 21st Century, Unframed
Located in Miami, FL
Her work with signs, symbols and esoteric spirituality reflects her passion for the ancient past and represents a symbolic return to the ground from which we emerged. Her work create...
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
$5,062Sale 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
$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
Flower Glade
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this painting, I sought to blend the tranquility of impressionism with the vibrant energy of pop art, all while maintaining a grounding in realism. The majestic tree, bat...
Oil, Acrylic, Canvas
After the storm
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant blend of realism and abstraction, I've captured the raw energy of a seascape rejuvenating after turmoil. The textured strokes in acrylic and oil wield a dance of ligh...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
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
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
Nice sunny day
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) I crafted this painting with a flourish of my brush, bringing to life these vibrant birds perched peacefully in their natural habitat. In each st...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$1,343
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
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
$5,345Sale Price|20% Off
In the gathering dusk by Rachael Dalzell. Acrylic on canvas.
Located in Coltishall, GB
Rachael Dalzell's paintings are colourful and expressive. Her free and lively use of paint through various techniques, mean that Rachael's work is as...
Canvas, Wood, Acrylic
Rain in Venice
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've woven a tapestry of emotions using acrylic and oil, bridging realism with vibrant expressionism and impressionism's soft touch. Capturing the serene yet lively...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Warm Sunset in Venice
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this visceral creation, I've melded acrylic and oil to capture the romantic aura of a rain-kissed city. My brush strokes, alive with realism and expressionism, dance with the ebbi...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
CATS
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant composition, I've joyfully blended impressionism with pop art, using acrylic and oil to bring to life these charming feline figures. The piece captures the warmth of ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Nascent Stream Wappinger Creek
Located in Buffalo, NY
A contemporary abstract expressionist acrylic painting by American female artist Rebecca Allan.
Canvas, Acrylic
Riga Cats
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant canvas, I've merged whimsy with urban tales, portraying feline figures against a nocturnal cityscape. Their bold stripes and patches echo the naive and pop art influe...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
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
ORC
Located in Zofingen, AG
Embodied in this artwork is the playful spirit and simplicity of naive art, blended with the vibrant edge of pop art. I used acrylic and oil to create a piece that resonates with the...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
NIRVANA
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've infused each brushstroke with the serene jubilance of a cat blithely submersed in nature. Utilizing acrylic and oil, I've merged impressionism’s fluidity with ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
BON APPETIT !
Located in Zofingen, AG
Crafted with vibrant acrylics and oils, my painting blends naive charm with pop-art zest, primitivism's raw beauty, and impressionism's gentle touch. It captures the innocent indulge...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$795Sale Price|20% Off
Walk. Oil on cardboard, 70, 5 x 65, 5 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Walk. Oil on cardboard, 70, 5 x 65, 5 cm Aleksandr Rodin (1922-2001) Painter Born in a family of farmers. Wife Rasma Lace - art scholar. Studied at the Stalingrad School of Art, Sar...
Oil, Cardboard
VIOLINIST
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this piece, I poured my heart into every brushstroke, blending acrylics and oils to give life to a charming creature immersed in music. I've intertwined naive artistry wi...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
FLUTIST
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this artwork, I've infused the canvas with a symphony of passion and playfulness, blending acrylic and oil to breathe life into a whimsical character whose soulful eyes and gentle...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
My Love
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant fusion of acrylic and oil, I've poured my heart into capturing the tenderness of companionship. Through the naive and pop art styles, I've created an intimate embrace...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
BLUE BLUE
Located in Zofingen, AG
In my vibrant creation, I've blended the whimsy of naive art with the boldness of pop art. With strokes of acrylic and oil, I crafted an inviting feline figure, its piercing blue eye...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Cherries
By Elena Lukina
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...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Sunny Nectar for Hummingbirds
By Elena Lukina
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...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
The Murmuring Forest, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Two figures stand close in an abstract forest, their forms blending with the trees. Directional brushstrokes capture the gentle sound of wind rustling through t...
Acrylic
Margaret Thatcher
By Philip Burke
Located in Buffalo, NY
An early painting by American artist and illustrator Phillip Burke depicting Margaret Thatcher. This work was originally commissioned by Vanity Fair...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
Welcombe Beach
By Rupert Aker
Located in Deddington, GB
Welcombe Beach by Rupert Aker [2021] original Acrylic on canvas Image size: H:30 cm x W:40 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:30 cm x W:40 cm x D:2cm Frame Size: H:33 cm x W:43 cm...
Canvas, Acrylic
$318Sale Price|20% Off
Colourful Abstract, French Expressionist Original Painting
By Akos Biro
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
AKOS BIRO (HUNGARIAN 1911-2002) watercolour, signed size: 6.5 x 9.75 inches Beautifully colourful, original painting by the very popular and highly regarded Hungarian/ French paint...
Oil Pastel, Gouache
$426Sale Price|20% Off
Colourful Provence Sky, French Expressionist Original Painting
By Akos Biro
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
AKOS BIRO (HUNGARIAN 1911-2002) watercolour, signed board size: 6.5 x 9.75 inches Beautifully colourful, original painting by the very popular and highly regarded Hungarian/ French...
Oil Pastel, Gouache
$415Sale Price|20% Off
Colourful Abstract, French Expressionist Original Painting
By Akos Biro
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
AKOS BIRO (HUNGARIAN 1911-2002) watercolour/ crayon, signed size: 5.75 x 8.75 inches Beautifully colourful, original painting by the very popular and highly regarded Hungarian/ Fre...
Oil Pastel, Gouache
$458Sale Price|20% Off
Sunset over the Sea, French Expressionist Original Painting
By Akos Biro
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
AKOS BIRO (HUNGARIAN 1911-2002) watercolour/gouache size: 7.75 x 11 inches Beautifully colourful, original painting by the very popular and highly regarded Hungarian/ French painter...
Oil Pastel, Gouache
$485Sale Price|20% Off
Provence Hill Perched Village, French Expressionist Original Painting
By Akos Biro
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
AKOS BIRO (HUNGARIAN 1911-2002) watercolour painting size: 9 x 6.75 inches Beautifully colourful, original painting by the very popular and highly regarded Hungarian/ French painter...
Oil Pastel, Gouache
$350Sale Price|20% Off
Colourful Abstract, French Expressionist Original Painting Farm Buildings
By Akos Biro
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
AKOS BIRO (HUNGARIAN 1911-2002) watercolour/gouache painting size: 7.5 x 11 inches Beautifully colourful, original painting by the very popular and highly regarded Hungarian/ French...
Oil Pastel, Gouache
$534Sale Price|20% Off
Figure on Sandy Beach Boat & Dog, French Expressionist Original Painting
By Akos Biro
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
AKOS BIRO (HUNGARIAN 1911-2002) watercolour/ gouache painting size: 7.5 x 11 inches Beautifully colourful, original painting by the very popular and highly regarded Hungarian/ Frenc...
Oil Pastel, Gouache
Sheepscombe Morning, Landscape Painting, Green Contemporary Expressionist Art
By Rupert Aker
Located in Deddington, GB
Sheepscombe Morning is an original painting by Rupert Aker. It depicts an english countryside scene with rolling hills and trees. The thick layers and brush marks give the painting a...
Canvas, Oil
Portrait of a Girl, Oil Painting by Sandu Liberman
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Sandu Liberman, Romanian/Israeli (1923 - 1977) Title: Portrait of a Girl Year: Circa 1970 Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed l.r. Size: 13 x 10 in. (33.02 x 25.4 cm) Frame Size:...
Oil
Wonderland small scale seated woman with large bouquet soft green colors
Located in Brooklyn, NY
ABOUT Stephen Basso Stephen Basso's highly original pastels and oil paintings are romantic, yet thought provoking fantasies. His whimsical works are alive with boundless imaginat...
Canvas, Oil
Guitar
Located in Zofingen, AG
Nude The beauty of a naked body is simply incredible! When I paint a picture with a naked woman, I have the feeling that I am painting space, the universe. I never cease to admire th...
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
$1,814
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 – Un...
Canvas, Oil
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...
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
Two in a Boat
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I've woven vivid expressionism with a hint of pop art's boldness, contrasting with the subtlety of impressionism. With acrylic and oil, I depict an enchanting voyage o...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Cardboard
Cardigan Bay, Montbretia, Cornish Seascape Painting, Coastal Art Cornwall
By Rupert Aker
Located in Deddington, GB
A splash of orange Montbretia against the blue sea of Cardigan Bay. Rupert Aker artist sells his works online and in our art gallery at Wychwood Art. Rupert Aker is a Cotswold based ...
Canvas, Acrylic
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
$3,500
Jelly Roll Float female figure with bouquet musicians wild red violet and black
Located in Brooklyn, NY
ABOUT Stephen Basso Stephen Basso's highly original pastels and oil paintings are romantic, yet thought provoking fantasies. His whimsical works are alive with boundless imaginat...
Linen, Oil
Strawberries 30X21
By Elena Lukina
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...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$1,685Sale Price|20% Off
Lake coast. Oil on board, 35.5x47.5 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, Board
$423
Luisa Holden, Lavender Grey Sky, Landscape Painting, Affordable Art, Art Online
Located in Deddington, GB
Lavender Grey Sky by Luisa Holden [2020] Original Mixed Media Image size: H:19 cm x W:19 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:41 cm x W:41 cm x D:0.5cm So...
Mixed Media
$3,931Sale Price|20% Off
Engures seaside. 1983, oil on canvas, 53x71 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
"Thinking About You", Expressionist Seascape, Oil on Board, Framed
By Anna Cardoso
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original expressionist seascape by San Diego artist Anna Cardoso. Its dimensions are 24x48x2. It comes in a silver frame. A certif...
Oil, Board
Relationships and sentiments I, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This was supposed to be an abstract painting like most of my artworks, but suddenly I had this desire to see some persons in it. So I was just drawing the silhouette of them and this...
Acrylic
$2,621Sale Price|20% Off
Piebalga. Oil on canvas, 67x47 cm. Signed
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
Heavenly Irises
Located in Zofingen, AG
FLOWERS (Large Format Thick Paper) Art - Work on Paper In this artwork, I've infused vibrant expressions, using acrylic and oil pastel, capturing the ethereal beauty of irises as the...
Oil, Acrylic, Satin Paper
Blue Galisia, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
As the artist of this oil painting, I've imbued it with a vibrant, emotive aura. Crafting each stroke with passion, I've captured a dreamlike essence that suggests both mystery and t...
Oil
$842Sale Price|20% Off
In the meadow. 1931. Oil on canvas, 25x34 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