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.
City park
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work is inspired by an autumn day in the city park of Vermanes in Riga. Golden leaves covered everything around. A little girl collected a bouquet of yellow leaves and stopped...
Canvas, Oil
Still-life with lilac
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I've poured my soul into capturing the delicate interplay of light and shadow, the vibrant texture of the lilacs. Each brushstroke carries my intense admiration for na...
Canvas, Oil
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 be a reflection of life's fervent dance. The lush oil paints sing with th...
Acrylic
'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...
Oil
$1,722Sale Price|20% Off
River. 1933. Oil on cardboard. 36 x 43 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...
Oil, Cardboard
Peach blossom, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Peach blossom flower peaceful symbol of innovation Spring Day Peach blossom is the most beautiful and popular flower in the North of Vietnam, loved by many people ...
Acrylic
$3,445Sale Price|20% Off
Haymaking. Oil on canvas, 50x73 cm
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
$3,445Sale Price|20% Off
To nets. 1970's, oil on canvas, 50x73 cm
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
Avocado
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this piece, I aimed to evoke the essence of nature's perfection through the vibrant simplicity of an avocado. The contrasting tones and the textured brushstrokes in oil s...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$2,679Sale Price|20% Off
Landscape. Oil on canvas, 48x70 cm
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
Red Lady, Watercolor Painting by Charles Levier
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Charles Levier, French (1920 - 2003) Title: Red Lady Year: circa 1970 Medium: Watercolor on paper, signed l.l. Size: 16 x 11 inches Paper Size: 25 x 1...
Watercolor
Mother and Daughter, Modern Art Oil Painting by Sandu Liberman
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Sandu Liberman, Romanian/Israeli (1923 - 1977) Title: Mother and Daughter Year: Circa 1970 Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed l.r. Size: 36 x 24 in. (91.44 x 60.96 cm) Frame Size:...
Oil
Figurative Oil on Canvas Painting Titled " Pasion Tanguera " Hand Signed Dated
Located in Plainview, NY
Pasión Tanguera Oil on Canvas Painting by Ale Riva (Buenos Aires, Argentina - b. Unknown ) This evocative oil on canvas captures the raw intensity and romance of Argentine tango, se...
Canvas, Oil
Loving Vincent Van Gogh, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Loving Vincent Van Gogh 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. Th...
Acrylic
Bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
rose spring yellow colours spring flowers In this vibrant expression of nature's beauty, I've melded expressionism and impressionism with semi-abstract forms, using acry...
Acrylic
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...
Acrylic
Bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
In this vibrant expression of nature's beauty, I've melded expressionism and impressionism with semi-abstract forms, using acrylics to celebrate life's invigorating essence. My brush...
Acrylic
Flowers in the morning dew (110x180cm), Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Flowers in the morning dew The most beautiful flowers are in the early morning. When the dawn just dawned, the petals began to gradually bloom, with the water lily, the lotus in ...
Acrylic
Midsummer Wander, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
On a lazy midsummer afternoon, a young bear wanders into a meadow nestled high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Abstract fields of color melt into the essence ...
Acrylic
$401Sale Price|20% Off
Venice's Grand Canal. 2015, paper, etching, soft lacquer, 26x14 cm 7/20
Located in Riga, LV
JEKATERINA GRYAZEVA Born in Latvia, Riga 1968 Education 1979 - 1986 J.Rozentals Secondary Art School (Riga). 1987 - 1993 Academy of Art (Riga, Latvia), department of Graphics, ...
Lacquer, Paper, Etching
Spanish landscape
Located in Zofingen, AG
The Spanish landscape is a metaphor for a bright, sunny atmosphere, lush greenery, creative space, beauty and aesthetics. This is exactly what an art school should be - in a building...
Canvas, Oil
Romanian Israeli Modernist Oil Painting Expressionist Figures Mothers and Babies
By Risa Propst Kraid
Located in Surfside, FL
Risa Propst Kraid (Romanian - Israeli, 1894-1983) Jewish Israeli Woman artist. enigmatic picture of either women picnicking or refugees huddling together. Painting and Sculpture Week, 1969 Painters and Sculptors Association in Israel, Haifa and the North Artists: Mordechai Avnieli, Irene Awret...
Canvas, Oil
Invocation
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original oil on canvas (shaped diptych) measuring 71” X 78 1/4” by American contemporary artist Mark Lavatelli. Mark Lavatelli is a Western New York painter, educator, and free...
Canvas, Oil
Lady with Pigeon
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I sought to capture a moment of serene introspection, where a woman, enveloped in a soft white dress, stands alone yet poised against a vivid, almost ethereal l...
Canvas, Oil
"Red Door, Gray House" - Textured Impasto Oil Landscape with Gray and Red
By Duan Zhaonan
Located in Carmel, CA
Duan Zhaonan (Chinese, born 1955) "Red Door, Gray House" 2017 Oil paint on canvas, stretcher bars The artist signed the back of the painting. Duan orchestrates a visual symphony wit...
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
The world belongs to you!
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've captured the serene moment of a woman caressed by the gentle hues of a sunset at the coast. Through the blend of realism and impressionism in oils, I sought to...
Canvas, Oil
Sophie at Sea
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this heartfelt painting, I've captured the pure joy and curiosity of a young girl at the seaside, her trusty canine companion by her side. Through vibrant oils, I embrace the play...
Canvas, Oil
$686Sale Price|30% Off
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec painting copy. 2000. Oil on сanvas, 73x60 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec painting "La Goulue, together with two women" Moulin Rouge "" copy - Unknown artist, oil on сanvas, 73x60 cm
Canvas, Oil
In Kingdom of roses
Located in Zofingen, AG
With each brushstroke, I sought to capture the vivacity and resilience of nature's beauty. This piece is a symphony of emotion, where the vibrancy of the roses against the tranquil b...
Canvas, Oil
$3,800Sale Price|41% Off
Invocation
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original oil on canvas (shaped diptych) measuring 60 3/4″ X 156″ by American contemporary artist Mark Lavatelli. Mark Lavatelli is a Western New York painter, educator, and fre...
Canvas, Oil
Looking Up
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original oil on canvas painting on panel by American contemporary artist Mark Lavatelli from the artist's most recent series. This painting comes housed in an artist made natural...
Encaustic, Oil, Panel
"Venice" -Church of Santa Maria della Salute- 1964 oil cm. 73 x 92
Located in Torino, IT
Venice,Italy,Blue, Edgardo CORBELLI (Turin, 1918 - 1989) From the traditional composition of the 1930s, the painting of Corbelli leads to technical and expressive results dominated...
Canvas, Oil
$861Sale Price|20% Off
Gentle mountain meadow
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I sought to capture the serene and uplifting spirit of nature. Vibrant yellow blooms stand boldly against a soft blue mountain backdrop, expressing a dance betw...
Canvas, Oil
$2,366
Helen Howells, Tidal, Original Seascape Painting, Art of South Wales Coastline
Located in Deddington, GB
Tidal [2021] Original Oil on Canvas Image size: H:91 cm x W:91 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:91 cm x W:91 cm x D:3.5cm Sold Unframed Please note that insitu images are purely ...
Canvas, Oil
$573Sale Price|20% Off
Evening lavender scent
Located in Zofingen, AG
In my creation, I infused the canvas with the serenity of a twilight embrace. The lavender field breathes a tranquil symphony, inviting viewers to inhale the painted essence of natur...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
Lavender evening
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've poured my spirit into capturing the serene yet intense beauty of a fading day. Through textured brushwork, I've merged impressionism with a touch of realis...
Canvas, Oil
Lavender Field
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this expressive oil painting, I've captured the ethereal essence of a tranquil lavender field. The vibrant strokes reflect the dynamic dance of nature, encompassing a symphony of ...
Canvas, Oil
$784Sale Price|20% Off
Still life with flowers and apple. Oil on paper, 39. 5 x 30 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Still life with flowers and apple. Oil on paper, 39. 5 x 30 cm Victor Karnauh (1950, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR – 2012, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine) – a painter, a monu...
Paper, Oil
Beautiful wild flowers in the meadow
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've captured the serene beauty of nature's simplicity, with wildflowers dancing gracefully under the expansive sky. Brushstrokes carry the emotion of a gentle ...
Canvas, Oil
Chamomile meadow
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this oil painting, I've embraced a blend of expressionism and impressionism to evoke a sense of tranquility. Each brushstroke carries my passion for nature's serene momen...
Canvas, Oil
The scent of wild herbs
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've channeled the raw, untamed beauty of nature through vibrant strokes and a harmonious palette. Each brushstroke captures the wildness and tranquility of a meado...
Canvas, Oil
$1,627Sale Price|20% Off
Flowers. Oil on cardboard, 71.5x56 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Flowers. Oil on cardboard, 71.5x56 cm Aleksandr Rodin (1922-2001) Painter Born in a family of farmers. Wife Rasma Lace - art scholar. Studied at the Stalingrad School of Art, Sarato...
Oil, Cardboard
Blooming tree, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
In this oil painting, I endeavored to capture the ephemeral beauty of nature's awakening. With each stroke, I sought to embody the delicate dance of blossoms on a gentle breeze, infu...
Oil
$10,000
"Trunks" - Original Landscape Painting - Tree Trunks in Vivid Orange Oil Paint
Located in Carmel, CA
David Leviathan (Israeli, born 1964) "Trunks" 2006 Oil paint on canvas, stretcher bars The artist signed the back of the painting. David Leviathan's "Trunks" is a 39" x 45" contemporary landscape abstract that captures the essence of a forest's heart. The canvas is alive with a rich tapestry of autumnal hues, ranging from deep umbers to fiery oranges and subtle golds. Leviathan's technique gives rise to a textured surface that mimics the rugged bark of tree trunks, standing tall amidst a flurry of color. The style is both abstract and suggestive, inviting the viewer to feel the organic growth and the cyclical decay inherent in nature. The painting evokes a sense of resilience and majesty, paying homage to the timeless beauty of the natural world. About the Artist: David Leviathan, born on August 6, 1950, in Kibbutz Givat Brenner, Israel, is a multifaceted Israeli artist whose talents span painting, sculpture, and poetry. After serving in the military, he studied at the Avni Institute of Fine Arts and worked under the guidance of Yehezkel Streichman...
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
Contemporary Expressionist Landscape, "Foothills Meadow"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original expressionist landscape painting by local Southern Californian artist, Joe Oakes. It's dimensions are 12 x 12. It is unframed. The artist has depict...
Canvas, Acrylic
"Rooftops", Mixed Media Collage, Expressionist Style, Unframed, 2010+
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind mixed media collage by southern California artist, Susan Osborn. Its dimensions are 22"x28". It is unframed. A certificate ...
Mixed Media
'Fishermen's Shacks, Old Monterey', California Expressionist, Stanford, Carmel
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'Canete' for Robert Canete (American, born 1948) and painted circa 2000. This noted Carmel artist studied with Vincent Rascon in the 1960's and later with Dwight...
Paper, Oil Pastel, Oil
$1,540Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Landscape Painting entitled Big Hill by Fauvist British Artist
By Steve Capper
Located in Preston, GB
Abstract Landscape Painting entitled Big Hill by Fauvist British Artist, Steve Capper Art measures 12 x 16 inches Frame measures 20 x 24 inches (approx.) Presented in a white wo...
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Board
$1,540Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Landscape Painting entitled Broken Ground by Fauvist British Artist
By Steve Capper
Located in Preston, GB
Abstract Landscape Painting entitled Broken Ground by Fauvist British Artist, Steve Capper Art measures 16 x 12 inches Frame measures 24 x 20 inches (approx.) Presented in a whit...
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Board
$813Sale Price|20% Off
Tulips with pear. Oil on cardboard, 50x40 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Tulips with pear. Oil on cardboard, 50x40 cm Aleksandr Rodin (1922-2001) Painter Born in a family of farmers. Wife Rasma Lace - art scholar. Studied at the Stalingrad School of Art,...
Oil, Cardboard
$2,750
'Waves off the Coast', Monterey, California, Large Modernist Seascape
By Alberto Conti
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right "A. Conti" for Alberto Conti (Italian, 1895-1982) and painted circa 1960. A dramatic Expressionist style coastal scene showing a view of a breaking wave off the c...
Oil, Board
Raspberry Boogie, Painting, Acrylic on Paper
Located in Yardley, PA
This is a small abstract painting on beautiful off-white cotton rag paper. The work has bright colours to offset the off-white paper. It comes with a mat which is lighter than th...
Acrylic
$2,400
'Pair of Perroquets', Large, Expressionist Oil, Parrots, Detroit Woman artist
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'R. Hornak' for Rosemary Hornak (American, born 1951); additionally signed verso, titled 'Perroquets Impasto, Variation 2' and dated 1992. Rosemary Hornak receiv...
Masonite, Oil
Nantes Seaport
By Robert L.P. Lavoine
Located in Pasadena, CA
Robert L. P. Lavoine is a French painter born in 1916 and dead in 1999. Known for his sea landscapes and urban landscapes, he is associated with the expressionist current of the twe...
Oil
Dialog, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
I am working at the moment on some flower paintings on a grey background in different sizes and colours. What remains the same is the background. They look elegant and are an eye-...
Acrylic
Winter Solstice, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Winter Solstice is a large painting - ready to hang with a hook attached to the back of the canvas - of my take of winter's beauty. Warm and cool colors playing off each other. 8...
Acrylic
Dust on the Beach, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A gray sky looms over the distant ocean, while wisps of grass emerge from the foreground. The rugged sand contrasts with the gentle waves. Earthy browns and g...
Oil
Star over the City, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A vast, colorful sky stretches over an abstracted city. Artist Diana Elena Chelaru has intentionally minimized the buildings, letting the sky feel limitless. ...
Acrylic
Drops of Morning Light, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
As the sun rises, golden yellows and oranges radiate against the blue sky. Colorful dots spread across the scene, conveying the movement and warmth of sunligh...
Acrylic
Monica Angle Contemporary Painting Large Scale Tree Line Series Abstract
By Monica Angle
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original acrylic on paper by American contemporary artist Monica Angle from the artist's Tree Line series created in 2014. This work is being sold unframed. Wholesale framing is...
Paper, Acrylic