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.
$995Sale Price|20% Off
French Expressionist Sludgy Green & Brown Landscape Very Thick Oil Impasto
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Green Landscape French artist, indistinctly signed, dated verso 1985 oil painting on canvas, in wooden frame canvas: 10 x 17 inches wooden frame: 9.5 x 16 inches provenance: private ...
Oil, Canvas
Walking By The Sea
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Walking By The Sea. Artist signed lower right corner, canvas size (31 1/2 x 39 1/4in). Nicola Simbari was born in Italy and grow up in Rome. He studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, and in the 1940s he began devoting himself to painting in a studio at Via del Babuino in central Rome. Simbari's early exposure to the architectural world had a lasting impression on his art, as he incorporated geometric forms and architectural structures into almost all of his paintings. He began to develop a distinct style stemming from impressions of life, nature, and the Mediterranean...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
$2,100Sale Price|30% Off
Ocean Lights - Expressionist Composition in Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Soquel, CA
Ocean Lights - Expressionist Composition in Acrylic on Canvas Bold abstract composition by California artist Charles "Dave" Francis (American, 1951-2018). The background of this pie...
Canvas, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
$416Sale Price|60% Off
'The Life-Drawing Class' by M. David
Located in London, GB
'The Life-Drawing Class', oil on board, by French (likely) artist M David (circa 1960s). A swirling, colourfully vivacious artwork that is immediately attractive and captivating. A l...
Oil, Board
Fantasy with Flowers 53
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
Pond with fish. Sketch
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I poured my emotions into the swirling colors of the pond, capturing the graceful dance of fish beneath rippling water. Using oil, I merged expressionism's boldness wi...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Old Riga
Located in Zofingen, AG
This artwork presents an enchanting street scene, expertly capturing the charm of an old European town. The composition centers on a cobblestone alley flanked by historic buildings, ...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
$1,064Sale Price|20% Off
Pond with pink lilies
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this painting, I sought to capture the tranquility and ephemeral beauty of nature. Each brushstroke is a tender embrace of the lilies' delicate dance on the water's refle...
Canvas, Oil
$145Sale Price|20% Off
CRAZY FACE
By Angel Rivas
Located in CÓRDOBA, ES
Original hand painting, acrylic on canvas on board
Acrylic
River Landscape - Early 20th Century French Expressionist Antique Oil Painting
Located in Sevenoaks, GB
A beautiful 1930's French expressionist oil on canvas depicting a river landscape with a bridge and houses under a dramatic sky. Excellent quality work, with lovely impasto brush wo...
Canvas, Oil
After the Summer Rain
Located in Zofingen, AG
"After the Summer Rain" is a vibrant abstract cityscape painted with layers of acrylic and oil on linen. The artist masterfully captures a moment of raw beauty and resilience. The p...
Acrylic, Canvas, Oil
$412Sale Price|43% Off
Hippie portrait original oil on canvas painting
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Frame size 50x58 cm. Joan Cruspinera Muñoz was born in 1945 in Tiana, Barcelona. This Catalan artist is a painter, draftsman and painter. His training...
Canvas, Oil
Edmund Pick Morino Still Life With Chicken
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Still Life With Chicken, Oil on canvas singed and dated 1923, from the Collection of Bass Museum Of Art. Canvas size 14 1/5x17 1/4 framed 21 3/8 x 23 7/8 Edmund Pick-Morino was the ...
Canvas, Oil
Dancers in the artists studio
By Jean Jansem
Located in New York, NY
Jean Jansem (1920-2013) The artist was invited at this period of time by a French Ballerina to attend a rehearsal and this was the start of his Ballet series. This painting was in h...
Oil
Voila
Located in Westport, CT
René Romero Schuler’s expressionistic paintings depict delicate female figures that she paints using a dry-brushed, minimalist hand, leaving her subjects mostly featureless but nonet...
Canvas, Oil
SEA, SAILS, MOUNTAIN
Located in Zofingen, AG
As I created this painting, I sought to capture the dynamic interplay between nature and human endeavor. The bold sails against the twilight sky symbolize the courage it takes to emb...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Fantasy with Flowers 47
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
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Goddess Feels - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Plants, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Josue M Pierre ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Tulips 5
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vivid expanse of warmth and vitality, I’ve unleashed my passion through oil pastel and colored pencil, embracing expressionism, impressionism, and pop art to provoke emotion....
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Satin Paper
Fantasy with Flowers 44
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
Delicate peonies
Located in Zofingen, AG
Capturing the essence of nature's softness, I imbued every brushstroke with life, crafting a serene explosion of petals against a tranquil backdrop. Each creamy swirl of oil is a ten...
Canvas, Oil
$461
Abstract Expressive woman's portrait acrylic on paper "What she holds within"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract expressionist woman's portrait "What she holds within "was created by the French artist Natalya Mougenot. With her hand gently resting against her chin and...
Paper, Acrylic
In the wildflowers Original impasto Miniature oil painting for living room
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In the Wildflowers" is an oil painting where the artist's passion meets serene natural beauty. This piece blends impressionism with realism, capturing a tender moment with soft colo...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Tulips Yellow 2
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Tulips Yellow 2" captures the vibrant essence of yellow tulips through a lively mix of impressionistic and pop art styles. Oil pastels and colored pencils blend to create a dynamic...
Paper
$1,680Sale Price|20% Off
Untitled -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Embroidery, Acrylic, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected crater from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist A...
Canvas, Acrylic, Thread
Early Morning
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I immersed myself in the visceral emotions that follow a tempest's passing—relief, contemplation, and a sense of renewal. I chose a blend of acrylics and oils...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Bradley Chance Hays "Dance of the Wild" Modern Watercolor Horse Equine Painting
Located in Saratoga Springs, NY
"Dance of the Wild" is a 29.5x21.5 (framed dimensions) 21 x 15 (unframed dimensions) original a mixed media ink and watercolor painting by Bradley Chance Hays. An expressive waterco...
Ink, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Watercolor
"Still Life with Apples" Fruit Modern Mid Century Oil Painting on Board Painting
Located in New York, NY
A strong modernist oil painting depicted in the mid Century by Russian painter Michael Baxte. Mostly known for his abstracted figures on canvas or street scenes, this piece is a wonderful representation of his bold still life paintings, with expressive use of color, shape, and form. Later in his career, Baxte explores Expressionism, infusing both European and North American stylistic trends. This piece is from later in his career, but we can feel this underlying style throughout. Art measures 15 x 11 inches Frame measures 22 x 19 inches Michael Posner Baxte was born in 1890 in the small town of Staroselje Belarus, Russia. For the first half of the 19th century, it was a center of the Chabad movement of Hasidic Jews, but this group was gone by the middle of the 19th century. By the time the Baxte family immigrated to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, the Jewish population numbered only on the hundreds. The native language of the Baxte family was Yiddish. It is likely that the death of Michael Baxte’s father triggered the family’s immigration. Three older brothers arrived in New York between 1903 and 1905. Michael and his mother, Rebecca, arrived in 1907. By 1910 Michael, his mother, and brother, Joseph, were living in New Orleans and may have spent some time on a Louisiana plantation. Around 1912, Michael Baxte returned to Europe to study the violin. In 1914 he, his mother, and Joseph moved to New York City. Meanwhile, in Algeria, a talented young woman painter, Violette Mege...
Oil, Board
"Covet" - Dark Expressionist Figurative - Nude Seated Woman in Japanese Oni Mask
Located in Carmel, CA
Rizaldy Celi Jr. (American, Filipino-Vietnamese, born 1983) "Covet" 2023 Oil paint, Varnish, Wood The artist signed the back of the painting. "Covet" by Rizaldy Celi Jr. is a striking exploration of expressionist-disrupted realism, depicted on a 48" x 36" wood board. This provocative piece challenges traditional norms of beauty and desire by juxtaposing a nude woman donning an Oni mask...
Wood, Oil, Varnish
Mid Century French Expressionist Oil, La Couseuse
Located in Cotignac, FR
A mid-century French Expressionist oil on paper, laid on board, painting of a lady sewing by Raphael Arnal. The painting is signed bottom left and dated, located and attributed to th...
Oil
$1,600Sale Price|20% Off
Listen, I am Here
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
'Listen, I am here' is an art Gbenga Eniafe created from the realities of his people. The everyday creative is overlooked even as he presses on. The purple represents his distinctive...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Beauty in the Deep End -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Fashion
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Elie HATUNGIMAN...
Canvas, Acrylic
Italian village
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this artwork, I've poured my soul into capturing the essence of a rustic Italian landscape, where the vibrant poppy fields dance under the sun's warm embrace. The path meanders, i...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Gazing Through Ankara 1
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Gazing Through Ankara" is a captivating series of paintings that celebrates the beauty, diversity, and individuality of black African women through the exploration of eyewear and An...
Fabric, Canvas, Oil, Mixed Media
New Realism Watercolor Portrait of a Young Girl by Siebert
Located in San Francisco, CA
This is not a joyful young girl free of worry. Instead, based on her expression in 1922 when this portrait was done, the sitter’s childhood was effectively over. With one of her two ...
Watercolor
Revelry, Oil Painting
By Karen Barton
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A jewel-toned hummingbird hovers mid-flight, its wings blurred by motion as it flies through the colorful sky. The scene takes inspiration from the birds that...
Oil
$810
Olympic Palette on Cream, Vertical Painting, Simple Colorful Gestures on Beige
Located in Barcelona, ES
"Olympic Pattern on Cream" is an abstract painting diptych by Spanish artist Natalia Roman. It is a beautiful series of rhythmic brushstrokes combined with subtle tones and unique sh...
Acrylic, Paper
$725Sale Price|20% Off
Flowering branch
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I surrendered to the dance of colors and textures, letting oil become emotion on canvas. Each brushstroke captures the trembling beauty of nature's fleeting m...
Canvas, Oil
$1,114Sale Price|20% Off
Large Mid Century French Expressionist Signed Oil Horse Racing Scene
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Horse Race French expressionist artist, mid 20th century signed oil on artist paper, unframed artist paper: 20 x 25.5 inches provenance: private collection, France condition: ov...
Oil
Fantasy with Flowers 32
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
Early 20th Century French Expressionist Landscape “Le pique-nique” Oil Painting
Located in Holywell, GB
Early 20th Century Expressionist Landscape “Le pique-nique” A colourful landscape painted with confident dramatic brush strokes in the style of the early 20th century expressionist ...
Oil
$1,263Sale Price|20% Off
"Memory" figuratif portrait acrylique on linen canvas 60x30cm
Located in Saint Pol de Léon, Bretagne
"Memory" figuratif portrait acrylique on linen canvas 60x30cm each of these faces has a dreamy look as if they had the memory of an inner history a little questionable whatever th...
Acrylic
$631Sale Price|20% Off
Surfing Girl
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant expression of freedom and skill, I have captured a surfer girl navigating the powerful surge of an ocean wave. My brushstrokes in oil blend elements of expressionism ...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Pocket Bright Red Strawberry fruit art old master style
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Bright Red Strawberry [2023] original Oil paint on canvas Image size: H:5 cm x W:5 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:5 cm x W:5 cm x D:2cm Frame Size: H:15 cm x W:15 cm...
Canvas, Oil
$2,280Sale Price|20% Off
Solitude -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women, Modern, Love
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Dan...
Canvas, Acrylic, Oil
Vaulted Bridge, French Landscape Oil on Masonite Painting by Vincent Mazzocchini
Located in Atlanta, GA
Vincent Mazzocchini, French Landscape with Medieval Bridge – Oil on Wood This captivating original oil painting created by French artist Vincent Mazzocchini (20th Century) is a rare...
Oil, Paint
$6,760Sale Price|20% Off
Sisters' Reunion -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Fashion, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Gob...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
Whimsical Mother Alkebulan - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Awofadeju Solom...
Stone
$2,680Sale Price|20% Off
Renew - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Children Art, Jewellery
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
$475
Notre Dame by Jacques Endzel, Oil on Canvas Colorful CItyscape of Paris
Located in Atlanta, GA
Welcome to Heritage, our carefully curated collection of French vintage and antique paintings. We scour the flea markets and fairs for these gems: poignant portraits of long-gone Me...
Canvas, Oil
$2,080Sale Price|20% Off
Love and Bond 4 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Whites, Black
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
A better society is not built solely by wealth or power, but by shared values. By the courage to love without condition, the strength to treat all as equals, and the wisdom to honor ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,380
Marina Diptych, Abstract Seascape Gestures in Blue, Acrylic Painting on Paper
Located in Barcelona, ES
This series by Enric Servera explores the relationship of humans to salt and seawater. The intention of these works is to submerge us into the sea, a salty treasure that surrounds us...
Paper, Acrylic
Mid Century French Expressionist Landscape Portrait, La Fermière Normande.
Located in Cotignac, FR
A mid-century French Expressionist oil on paper, laid on board, painting titled 'La Fermière Normande' (The Normandy Farmer) by Raphael Arnal. The painting is signed bottom right and...
Paper, Acrylic, Oil
$1,457
"Evening city over the sea bay. The triptych. An atmospheric seascape in blue."
Located in Zofingen, AG
Evening city over the sea bay. The triptych. An atmospheric seascape in blue. The central painting has a size of 40x40cm. The left part of the triptych has a size of 30x40cm. The r...
Canvas, Lacquer, Oil, Acrylic
"Sarabono" (2009) by Jann T. Bass, Original Oil Painting of Landscape
Located in Denver, CO
"Sarabono" (2009) by Jann T. Bass is an original handmade oil painting that depicts a colorful flowery landscape. This painting measures 12 x 14 inches and is ready to hang.
Oil, Board
$2,280Sale Price|20% Off
Wura (Gold) - 21st Century, Expressionist, Figurative Nude Portrait, Oil, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Sayeed...
Canvas, Oil
$725Sale Price|20% Off
Still-life with bouquet of roses Giclée print
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this piece, I poured my soul into capturing the essence of ephemeral beauty. The delicate interplay of light and shadow, the tender petals against the vintage tones, all ...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
Morning in a sunny vineyard
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I captured the vibrant energy of a sunlit vineyard at dawn, blending impressionism and realism to evoke warmth and renewal. The golden hues reflect the morning ligh...
Canvas, Oil
Blue Pond 30X30
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I poured my emotions into the delicate balance between tranquility and fleeting movement. The shimmering water lilies float gently, capturing the quiet moments of refl...
Canvas, Oil
$2,500
“Crossroads, c. 1940” WPA Polish-American Expressionist Modernist Oil Signed
By Sol Wilson
Located in Yardley, PA
“Crossroads, c. 1940” by Sol Wilson (Polish-American, 1896-1974). This expressive painting by Wilson depicts a moody village crossroads rendered with his signature textured brushwor...
Oil, Board