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.
Venice, Gondolier 2
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I captured a lone gondolier upon the serene waters of Venice, blending acrylic and oil to reflect both the rough textures of life and the smooth flows of its joys. ...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Venice, Gondolier 1
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I've merged the free-spirited strokes of impressionism with the emotional depth of expressionism, capturing the essence of a serenely gliding gondolier in Venice. Usin...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Wet Roads
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this painting, I delved into the transient beauty of a rain-soaked cityscape through an amalgamation of impressionism and abstract styles. Using acrylics and oils, I stro...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Sunny day in Venice
Located in Zofingen, AG
Town. The beauty of cities is different: there are cities with museums, such as Rome, Paris. Where to look at beautiful architecture! There are also small provincial towns where lif...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Bridge in Venice 2
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this acrylic canvas, I've poured my soul into capturing the dance of light on Venice's waters. The brushstrokes marry realism with a dreamy impressionism, expressing the city's he...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Ringing Venice.
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I sought to capture the essence of a serene Venetian moment, blending realism with impressionistic brushstrokes and expressionistic color play. I used both ac...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
$1,459Sale Price|20% Off
Birth of the Lamb. Cardboard, oil, 65x60 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Birth of the Lamb. Cardboard, oil, 65x60 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
Sweet was the Walk, Rachael Dalzell, Acrylic on canvas with tray frame
Located in Coltishall, GB
Sweet was the walk depicts the low sunlight, long shadows and warm colours of a winter morning walk along the hedgerows of Norfolk. Rachael’s paintings are large, colourful and expr...
Canvas, Acrylic
$857Sale Price|20% Off
Boats at Low Tide in Blakeney, Rachael Dalzell Acrylic Paint on Paper, Unframed
Located in Coltishall, GB
Blakeney staithe with boats at low tide Rachael’s works on paper are particularly organic. Diluted paint is allowed to migrate on a damp surface, sticks are used to daub and scratch...
Paper, Acrylic
$641Sale Price|20% Off
After the Rain in Happisburgh. Rachael Dalzell Acrylic paint on paper, Unframed
Located in Coltishall, GB
The sun emerges after a rain storm over the lighthouse at Happisburgh – Rachael’s works on paper are particularly organic. Diluted paint is allowed...
Paper, Acrylic
$3,182Sale Price|20% Off
Boats at Low Tide by Rachael Dalzell. Acrylic on canvas with tray frame
Located in Coltishall, GB
This piece is based on a view over boats on the marshes in early spring. Rachael’s paintings are large, colourful and expressive. Her free and lively use of paint through various t...
Canvas, Acrylic
Sea and Mountains 2
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've endeavored to capture the rugged, raw beauty of a majestic mountain range descending into a vibrant, lively sea coast. Employing techniques from impression...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
$2,200
Expressionist French Israeli Modern Oil Painting Chelsea Hotel, George Chemeche
Located in Surfside, FL
This is a bright, colorful modernist oil painting of a vase of Flowers A great floral work. George Chemeche was born in Basra, Iraq in 1934 He emigrated to Israel and studied at th...
Oil, Canvas
$24,000
"Obsession" - Black, Red, and Fiery Orange Expressive Abstract Self Portrait
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...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
$5,129Sale Price|25% Off
"Donna con vestito rosso" olio cm. 50 x 70 1979
Located in Torino, IT
woman,red, Italian painter Edgardo CORBELLI (Turin, 1918 - 1989) From the traditional composition of the 1930s, the painting of Corbelli leads to technical and expressive results do...
Canvas, Oil
Irises on Blue
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I sought to capture the ephemeral beauty of irises, using vibrant strokes of acrylic and oil to express their dynamic, almost lively forms against a vivid blue back...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
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
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
$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
$269Sale Price|20% Off
20th Paris School Collage Cutout Artwork Wonderful Interior Design options!
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"Collage" by Bernard Herzog (French, b.1935) signed and stamped verso with catalogue number photo collage cut outs on paper, unframed overall paper: 25.5 x 20 inches Highly unique ...
Photographic Film, Magazine Paper
$269Sale Price|20% Off
20th Paris School Collage Cutout Artwork Wonderful Interior Design options!
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"Collage" by Bernard Herzog (French, b.1935) signed lower corner signed and stamped verso with catalogue number photo collage cut outs on paper, unframed overall paper: 25.5 x 20 in...
Photographic Film, Magazine Paper
$269Sale Price|20% Off
20th Paris School Collage Cutout Artwork Wonderful Interior Design options!
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"Collage" by Bernard Herzog (French, b.1935) signed and stamped verso with catalogue number photo collage cut outs on paper, unframed overall paper: 25.5 x 20 inches Highly unique ...
Photographic Film, Magazine Paper
$1,078Sale Price|20% Off
ARMAND ROTTENBERG (1903-2000) LARGE FRENCH EXPRESSIONIST ABSTRACT OIL
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"Ete Indien" by Armand Rottenberg (French 1903-2000) inscribed verso, oil painting on board, framed board: 52 x 39 inches frame: 53 x 40 inches Stunning original French expression...
Oil
$401Sale 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
Man with Beard (After Van Gogh), Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A bearded sailor in a blue uniform and cap stands against a yellow background. Artist Robert Hofherr reimagined one of Vincent van Gogh's portraits through the ...
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
Port Roya 2
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vivid work, I've melded acrylic and oil to breathe life into a bustling marina. Channeling the spontaneity of expressionism and the allure of impressionism, I invite viewers ...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Love in the Night City
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant painting, I've married the boldness of pop art with the heartfelt touch of naive style. The use of acrylic and oil gives depth and texture, evoking the raw emotions a...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
At Sunset
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this painting, I poured my heart into capturing the serene companionship between two creatures at dusk. The strokes are a dance of naive warmth with pops of color that sp...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
BALL
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant fusion of acrylics and oils, I've captured the playful innocence of youth through bold, impressionistic strokes. Blending naive charm with pop art flavors, it's a whi...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,276Sale 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
$1,459Sale Price|20% Off
Spring bouquet. Oil on cardboard, 85 x 74, 5 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Spring bouquet. Oil on cardboard, 85x74,5 cm Aleksandr Rodin (1922-2001) Painter Born in a family of farmers. Wife Rasma Lace - art scholar. Studied at the Stalingrad School of Art,...
Oil, Cardboard
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
$2,553Sale Price|20% Off
Landscape. Oil on canvas, 48x70 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
$539
A view from Highnam Church by Eleanor Woolley, landscape, affordable, oil paint
Located in Deddington, GB
Eleanor Woolley An autumnal view looking towards the Cotswold escarpment from Highnam Church. I painted this landscape late in the day when the colours had turned to rust and mauve. ...
Oil
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
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
To Be Discovers, from the Wild Woman Series, colorful discoverer exploring
By Janet Morgan
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colorful image of the discoverer expanding the universe. This painting is in a series called the Wild Woman which is also printed in a pocket sized book. Watercolor, mixed media, u...
Mixed Media, Watercolor, Archival Paper
Music of the Senses (Ballerina 2)
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this artwork, I embraced the fluidity of expressionism with dashes of impressionism and a touch of pop art allure. I sought to weave the language of music and dance into ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Bright new day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By LE ANH TUAN
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 bru...
Acrylic
Kitties
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...
Acrylic, Archival Paper
Benavente Solis. bull. dream of a bullfighter expressionist acrylic
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
bull. dream of a bullfighter original expressionist acrylic painting During its first exhibition in Paris, the French press catalogs it like "The Catalan Sorolla". Honorary Member of...
Wood, Oil
$3,282Sale Price|20% Off
Haymaking. Oil on canvas, 50x73 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
$3,282Sale Price|20% Off
To nets. 1970's, oil on canvas, 50x73 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
$1,623Sale Price|20% Off
Sunny atumn day. 1978. Oil on cardboard, 68x93 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Edgars Vinters (1919-2014) Edgars Vinters is working in oil, watercolor and monotype techniques. He paints landscapes in different seasons and flowers. In 1970 the significant place...
Oil, Cardboard
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
$1,604Sale Price|20% Off
Woman with horses. 1974. Cardboard, tempera. 37.8x42cm
Located in Riga, LV
Vladimir Glushenkov (1948-2009) (May 21, 1948, Riga - December 26, 2009, Riga) - painter, graphic artist, poet, translator. Vladimir Glushkenkov was born in family with Russian-Poli...
Tempera, Cardboard
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
Flowers of Happiness
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant fusion of expressionism, impressionism, and pop art, I've layered oil pastels and colored pencils to capture the essence of joy. My strokes are deliberate, alive with...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Satin Paper
Gladiolus
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this energetic piece, I've unleashed a symphony of vibrant colors and passionate strokes to celebrate life's vivacity. Merging expressionism with a touch of pop art, I've used acr...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Satin Paper
Almazan Realistic Still Life Acrylic Painting, Framed, 2000s
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Almazan Realistic Still Life Acrylic Painting framed MIQUEL was an artist focused on the art of realism. His structured works on his great mastery of drawing, are romantic and tran...
Pastel
Red on Red
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I drew inspiration from a surge of emotions and aimed to channel the vividness of life's passions. Utilizing acrylics, oil pastels, and colored pencils, I ble...
Acrylic, Satin Paper, Oil Pastel
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
Baltic seacoast
By Elena Lukina
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. ...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
$3,500
Raventos Gig Vertical Barcelona original expressionist acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
"Barcelona" original expressionist acrylic painting RAVENTÓS Mª Assumpció – (San Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona 1930). Raventos trained at the elite Sant Jordi School of Fine Arts in B...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Sunflower Giclée Print on Canvas, Expressionist Style, Framed, 2010+
By Elena Lukina
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...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
$353Sale Price|26% Off
Dandelions Giclee Print on Canvas, Expressionist Style, Framed, 2010+
By Elena Lukina
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...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée