Expressionist Paintings
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.
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic, Monotype
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic, Cardboard
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Watercolor, Gouache, Handmade Paper
Artist Comments
The sky glows orange, its vibrant colors reflected upon the lake. Pine trees grace the horizon with their distinct silhouettes. While the far shore emits a fain...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Watercolor
Artist Comments
Drawing inspiration from a charming New England town art gallery, this fauvist reinterpretation simplifies intricate details, allowing the vibrant shapes of exp...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Artist Comments
Catching the final light of a February day in Massachusetts, the treetops burst into vibrant hues. Drawing inspiration from van Gogh's bold landscapes, the unde...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Fauvist color and energetic paint handling invigorate a Massachusetts harbor. Displaying an expressive and loose painting technique, the underpainting actively ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
In a tranquil garden, wildflowers daydream and create their own sunshine. Blue and gold blooms dominate the cluster, with red ones adding vibrant accents. Infus...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Pastel, Acrylic
1910s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Early 20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Inspired by a Scottish folktale during her trip to Scotland, artist Sumner Crenshaw depicts two figures under the moon. In the tale, a selkie transforms into a ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Linen, Canvas
Artist Comments
Beneath the blue sky, a thicket of trees displays their autumn-tinted foliage. Thin clouds in the distance and wispy grasses in the foreground add depth to the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
Early 2000s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Board, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
1990s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Pigment
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Panel, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A London flat takes a fauvist approach, emphasizing bold colors over detailed representation. The simple depiction of furniture and dynamic visual texture of th...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A neighborhood with New England-style homes embraces a Fauvist treatment, resulting in a stylized landscape with textured underpainting and non-realistic colors...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Expressionist Paintings
Mixed Media
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Metal
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
1990s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
1950s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A vibrant autumn scene unfolds as towering trees with golden leaves stretch toward the azure sky. The quiet neighborhood below hosts quaint houses nestling amon...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
