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.
Elisabeth Spalding 1938 Garden Flowers Still Life, Colorado Modernist
By Elisabeth Spalding
Located in Denver, CO
"From Carla's Garden – Just Before Frost" is a captivating 1938 oil painting by American artist Elisabeth Spalding (1868–1954), one of the pioneering figures of Colorado art and an i...
Oil
Town Square, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A town square boasts structures with mixed architectural styles. Lively street performers and the crowd enjoy each other's company. It captures the vibrant es...
Acrylic
BIRD 19
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I've melded acrylic and oil to capture the frailty yet resilience of nature, through a burst of textured strokes embodying both expressionism and impressionism. The ey...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
"Mexican Villagers Scene with Man on a Horse" Expressionistic Style Oil 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 portraits in village landscapes with expressive use of color, shape, and form. Later in his career, Baxte explores Expressionism, infusing both European and North American stylistic trends. Art measures 25.5 x 21.25 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, was making history. For the first time, a woman won the prestigious Beaux Art competition in Algeria. At first, the awards committee denied her the prize but, with French government intervention, Mege eventually prevailed. She won again 3 years later and, in 1916, used the scholarship to visit the United States of America. When Violette came to New York, she met Baxte, who was, by then, an accomplished violinist, teacher, and composer. Baxte’s compositions were performed at the Tokyo Imperial Theater, and in 1922 he was listed in the American Jewish Yearbook as one of the prominent members of the American Jewish community. As a music teacher, he encouraged individual expression. Baxte stated, “No pupil should ever be forced into the imitation of the teacher. Art is a personal experience, and the teacher’s truest aim must be to awaken this light of personality through the patient's light of science.” By 1920 Michael Baxte and Violette Mege were living together in Manhattan. Although they claimed to be living as husband and wife, it seems that their marriage did not become official until 1928. On their “unofficial” honeymoon around 1917, in Algiers, Baxte confided to her his ambition to paint. There and later in New Mexico where the wonderful steeped sunlight approximates the coloring of Algiers, she taught him his heart’s desire. He never had any other teacher. She never had any other pupil. For ten years she devoted all her time, energy, and ambition to teaching, encouraging, inspiring him. Then in 1928, their mutual strivings were rewarded, as his works were being chosen as one of the two winners in the Dudensing National Competition for American Painters. Out of 150 artists from across the country participated in the Dudensing, and Michael Posner Baxte and, Robert Fawcett...
Oil, Masonite
Snowman with a flashlight 30X25
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In my painting, I've poured my soul into capturing the whimsical joy and innocent warmth of winter's magic. Brushstrokes of oil dance across the canvas, framing a cheerful snowman as...
Oil
Copons Barcelona Original Acrylic Painting, Expressionist, 1990s
By Joan Copons
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Original work of the Spanish artist Joan COPONS. -Barcelona-jardin. original acrylic painting
Canvas, Oil
$3,850
Face and Phases - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, African Women
By Samson Toba
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
Canvas, Acrylic
Sailing at Sunset By Kate Heiss
By Kate Heiss
Located in Deddington, GB
limited_edition Oil based inks on 300gsm Somerset Velvet Paper Edition number 50 Image size: H:30 cm x W:30 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:40 cm x W:40 cm x D:1cm Sold Unf...
Bromoil
Untitled - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women, African
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, Oil, Charcoal
Seed of Joy - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women, African
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, Oil
Bouquet of Roses
Located in New York, NY
A very rare composition by the artist Jean-Pierre Cassigneul, the woman holds a beautiful Bouquet of Roses by the artist, she is wearing a chapeau in front of a painting showing th...
Oil
$4,492Sale Price|20% Off
Bouquet of fluttering butterfly
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
Bouquet of fluttering butterfly These Oxalis houseplants flutter their wings like butterflies. A flower has grown in my house. In this painting, I sought to capture the ephemeral be...
Canvas, Oil
$1,297Sale Price|40% Off
Church of Saint-Nicolas du Chardonnet, Gouache on Paper, 1930s, Framed
By Lucien Génin
Located in London, GB
'The Church of Saint-Nicolas du Chardonnet, Paris', gouache on art paper by Lucien Génin (circa 1930s). In Paris' 5th Arrondissement the site in which Saint-Nicolas du Chardonnet is ...
Paper, Gouache
$5,350
Souvenir of Resilience 3 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait Fashion
By Gobe Joseph
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
Haystacks in Nordmany
Located in New York, NY
This is a period when the artist saw the light differently and the journey all started in 1971. Bernard Buffet, the artist, was searching for subjects, looking to paint what he saw j...
Oil
$1,450
Untitled -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern, Men, Colours
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
11 Breath of Silence Venice Biennale 2026 Project
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
THE PROJECT: INDEPENDENT PAVILION VENICE 2026 This work is a cornerstone of the "In Minor Keys: The Turquoise Silence" series — a large-scale artistic manifesto created specifically ...
Canvas, Oil
Sister's Bond 2 - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative Expressionism, Art Deco
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Some relationships are born by blood; others are chosen by the heart. In Sister's Bond II, two women stand side by side, their hands intertwined, not because life has been easy, but ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,833Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Expressionist Lake and Mountain Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Genève, GE
Work on canvas
Oil
3 Whisper of the Adriatic Venice Biennale 2026 Project
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
THE PROJECT: INDEPENDENT PAVILION VENICE 2026 This work is a cornerstone of the "In Minor Keys: The Turquoise Silence" series — a large-scale artistic manifesto created specifically ...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
$1,850
'Camille VI', Fauve Figural of Young Woman, California Post Impressionist Oil
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed verso, 'Ant McNaught', (American, 1952-2026), titled 'Camille VI', and dated 2018-2020. This California Post-Impressionist and Abstract Expressionist artist has studied at the Esalen Institute with Erin Gafill and Tom Birmingham...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Gaspar Riera. Masia. Majorca original expressionist
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Masia Majorca original expressionist painting framed Painter born in the town of Estellencs on the island of Mallorca, from his youth he dedicates himself to drawing and watercolor...
Wood, Acrylic
$4,200
"Days Like This" - Acrylic Abstract Painting With Layered Color Fields
Located in Denver, CO
"Days Like This" (2023) is an original, handmade painting by Leigh Ann Van Fossan. Created with acrylic on canvas, the artwork measures 40 x 30 x 2 inches (101.60 x 76.20 x 5.08 cm)....
Acrylic, Canvas
"Horses in the field" with yellow popular trees
Located in New York, NY
"Horses in the field" is unique by the artist, because of the location where they are grazing among the yellow popular trees.
Oil
$2,000
Resilience - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women, Africa
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
Luminous Coastline: 30x40cm Oil on Caravaggio Italy Canvas (2024)
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Luminous Coastline" is an exquisite 2024 original oil painting from the prestigious series Gravity of Light: Marine Chronicles. Created on world-renowned Italian Caravaggio canvas, ...
Canvas, Oil
9 Frequency 432 Oil Painting on Canvas, Expressionist, Unframed, 2010+
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
THE PROJECT: INDEPENDENT PAVILION VENICE 2026 This work is a cornerstone of the "In Minor Keys: The Turquoise Silence" series — a large-scale artistic manifesto created specifically...
Canvas, Oil
5 Waiting for the Tide Venice Biennale 2026 Project
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
THE PROJECT: INDEPENDENT PAVILION VENICE 2026 This work is a cornerstone of the "In Minor Keys: The Turquoise Silence" series — a large-scale artistic manifesto created specifically ...
Canvas, Oil, Linen
$2,200
"Nestled" - Rural Midwestern Winter Landscape, Acrylic/Charcoal Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Leigh Ann Van Fossan's "Nestled" is a charming acrylic and charcoal painting, created on canvas. Artist Statement: "This emotional, impulsive, and nostalgic work captures a familiar...
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
10 Through the Mist of Time Venice Biennale 2026 Project
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
THE PROJECT: INDEPENDENT PAVILION VENICE 2026 This work is a cornerstone of the "In Minor Keys: The Turquoise Silence" series — a large-scale artistic manifesto created specifically ...
Canvas, Oil
"Shadow Lace" (2017) Expressionist Winter Still-Life, Watercolor Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Subject matter to me is a vehicle for me to explore how I observe life. My urban influences are an assembly of varied fabrics stitched together to form a tapestry. It is not to re...
Oil, Panel
Purity Oil Painting on Canvas, Expressionist Style, 21st Century
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Purity" is a mesmerizing artwork that encapsulates the strength, grace, and inherent beauty of a black African woman. Through her direct gaze, the white dove, and the vibrant colors, the painting invites contemplation about the purity of the human spirit, the harmonious connection between humanity and nature, and the celebration of diversity and individuality. 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 Bakare Babatunde...
Canvas, Oil
Gouache Painting Jules Pascin Hand Signed Woman in Boudoir German Expressionism
By Jules Pascin
Located in Surfside, FL
Genre: German Expressionist Subject: Woman Medium: gouache paint Surface: Paper board This is hand signed lower right. Framed it measures 17.25 X 15.5, sheet 12 X 10 This came from ...
Paper, Gouache, Cardboard
Contemporary abstract expressionist vivid acrylic portrait on paper "True self"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary expressionist, figurative abstract portrait was created by French artist Natalya Mougenot as part of her ongoing series devoted to the human face—not just as a like...
Paper, Acrylic
$697Sale Price|20% Off
Rouen Street Scene Thickly Painted 20th Century French Signed Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: French Expressionist School, indistinctly signed Title: Rouen street scene Medium: signed oil painting on canvas, unframed. Siz...
Oil, Canvas
Kinetic Motion: 18x24cm Impasto Oil on Canvas Panel (2024)
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Kinetic Motion" is a vibrant 2024 original oil study from the prestigious series Gravity of Light: Marine Chronicles. Created as an intimate 18x24 cm work on professional canvas pan...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$2,100
Raventos SHEET MUSIC Violin original expressionist acrylic paintig
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Partituras original expressionist acrylic paintig. RAVENTÓS Mª Assumpció – (San Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona 1930). Raventos trained at the elite Sant Jordi School of Fine Arts in Bar...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
$7,300
Kinetic Azure: Deep Turquoise Abstract Expressionism – Large Palette Knife Oil
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this monumental 80x120 cm work from her 2024 pivotal collection, Elena Lukina redefines the boundaries of contemporary marine abstraction. 'Kynetic Azure' is not merely a depictio...
Canvas, Oil
$2,250
Africa Motherhood - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern
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, Oil, Acrylic
Kitsch Figurative Scene with Mixed-Media Elements, Oil on Board
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Kitsch Figurative Scene Mixed-Media Oil Painting on Board. Oil and mixed media on board, incorporating natural hair and metal chain elements. Signed with an illegible signature and d...
Metal
Tulips Red 4
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Tulips Red 4" is a vibrant floral painting where passion meets bold expression. Red takes center stage, brought to life through expressive strokes of oil stick on paper. The artist'...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$7,908
Contemporary Splatters of Vibrant Red Background w. Bull & Woman Form Painting
Located in ALCOY/ALCOI, ES
Title: «La Bruja» Collection: Muses Description: Acrylic on canvas, figurative, Vibrant, modern "Who is the witch of the big city today? How does she stand out from everyone else? She wants to break the rules and obeys her inner voice, she is not afraid to be herself, she chooses her own path, she lets magic enter her life every day, because living her life and loving herself is true magic." The artwork in question may celebrate the power and freedom of self-expression. The focus is on a woman who defies convention and chooses to live life on her own terms. She is described as a "witch," which suggests that she is seen as someone who is in touch with the mystical and the spiritual. The artwork may depict this woman as a bold and confident figure, with an unapologetic attitude and a strong sense of personal style. The imagery may be colorful and fantastical, with elements of nature and magic woven into the composition. The artwork may also convey a sense of joy and empowerment, with the message that being true to oneself is the ultimate form of magic. Overall, the artwork celebrates individuality, creativity, and the courage to pursue one's own path in life. Victoria Tsemka...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,234Sale Price|30% Off
The Mill Watercolor and Graphite on Paper, Cubist Style, Circa 1930s
Located in London, GB
'The Mill', watercolour and graphite on paper, adhered on canvas, by Louis Latapie (circa 1930s). A colourful wintery scene, the bare trees are like wireless ...
Canvas, Paper, Watercolor, Graphite
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
MUSIC ROOM with HARP - INTERIOR oil large painting 100x70cm /40x27.5in FRAMED
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Music Room with Harp" Oil on canvas. Part of Interior series. Large original, one-of-a-kind, painting 100x70cm / 40x27.5in Shipped stretched and framed. 1st dibs covers up to $200 o...
Canvas, Oil
Carmelo Ortiz de Elgea – Expressionist Figure in a Rocky Coastal Landscape, 2003
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Carmelo Ortiz de Elgea – Expressionist Figure in a Rocky Coastal Landscape, 2003 – Oil on Canvas – 98 × 130 cm A large-scale expressionist oil painting by Spanish artist Carmelo Ort...
Canvas, Oil
Mispa Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Expressionist Portrait, 21st Century
By Kum Cletus
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 Born in 1993 in...
Canvas, Acrylic
Fair Wind
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've melded acrylic and oil to capture the ephemeral beauty of a seascape bathed in the soft glow of twilight. The gentle undulations of the sea and the serene sail...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Personnages Dans un Parc
By Pierre Anfosso
Located in Sheffield, MA
Pierre Anfosso French, 1928-2004 Personnages Dans un Parc Oil on Canvas 15 by 18 in, w/ frame 21 ½ by 24 ½ in Signed lower left Pierre Anfosso (1 Dece...
Oil
Serenity 2 Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Expressionist, 21st Century
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
Independent Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Expressionist, 21st Century
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
At first glance, "Independent" captures the viewer's attention with its striking imagery of a woman wearing a vibrant yellow coat. The choice of yellow as the dominant color is symbo...
Canvas, Acrylic
Landscape with meadow
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In creating this painting, I infused my passion for nature's raw beauty and the tranquility of open meadows. The expressive strokes of oil paint capture the warmth of sunlight cares...
Canvas, Oil
$1,733Sale Price|20% Off
Coastal view
Located in Genève, GE
Work on canvas Gray wooden frame 64.5 x 114.5 x 4 cm
Oil
Air Tulips: Mixed, paper, acrylic, oil pastel, 57x81cm
Located in Zofingen, AG
‘Air Tulips’ is an immersive journey into the very heart of a bloom. In this large-format mixed media work (57x81 cm), the tulips are not just flowers—they are a vibrant, breathing f...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$2,017Sale Price|20% Off
Blooming tree
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"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, inf...
Canvas, Oil
Sea of Blues N10, Abstract Blue and White Fish Patterns, Mediterranean Style
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 and reminds us of its natural beauty and the importance of its preservation. Details: Title: Sea of Blue N10 Medium: Mixed Media on Paper Size: 63 x 90 cm (28.4 x 35.4 inches). Year: 2021 * Frame is for illustrative purposes only. Artwork shipped carefully rolled and packaged in a tube. * Certificate of Authenticity provided. Enric Servera (Ciutadella de Menorca, 1970) lives and works between Barcelona and Menorca, Spain. His works explores the colors and forms of the ocean, inspired by the fauna and flora of the Mediterranean Sea. His work has shown in galleries across Spain, and is part of several public and private collections. Words that may describe this series of artworks are: Mediterranean-inspired art, abstract sea...
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor
$2,910Sale Price|40% Off
In The Artist's Studio - Abstract Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 1984
By D.S. Silver
Located in Soquel, CA
Large scale abstract painting of another abstract painting on artist's easel by California artist D. Silver (American, 20th Century), 1984. Signed and dated lower right corner and on...
Canvas, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
$3,500
“Blue Macaw, 1975” by Aubrey Williams, Guyanese Tropical Bird Gouache Signed
Located in Yardley, PA
This striking gouache captures Williams’s lifelong fascination with the natural world, filtered through his expressive modernist sensibility. The bird emerges from a hazy gray field,...
Paper, Gouache
$2,475Sale Price|20% Off
Small city center. 2013. Cardboard, oil, 97x123 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Street view. 2013. Cardboard, oil, 97x123 cm
Oil, Cardboard
Japanese Spring Paradise: Landscape Original impasto Miniature Oil Gift Art
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of "Japanese Spring Paradise," a painting where the fleeting charm of cherry blossoms meets the timeless grandeur of Mount Fuji. This original o...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Flowers in a Vase, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A variety of flowers spring from a white vase, their shapes and orientations creating a lively sense of movement. The background accentuates the freshness of th...
Acrylic