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.
$1,504Sale Price|20% Off
"Salève mount landscape" by William GOLIASCH - Oil on canvas 50x61 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Oil on canvas sold with frame Total size with frame 70x82 cm Signed and dated William GOLIASCH is a Swiss artist born in 1922 and died in 1986. His works have been sold at public au...
Oil
$1,020Sale Price|30% Off
Late 20th Century French Abstract Expressionist Acrylic on Board. 'Jazz Night'.
By Thierry Miramon
Located in Cotignac, FR
Late 20th century abstract expressionist oil on board representation of a lively jazz night by French artist, Thierry Miramon, signed top left and pres...
Acrylic, Board
$3,400
"Sands of Celia" (2022) by Leigh Ann Van Fossan, Original Acrylic Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Leigh Ann Van Fossan's "Sands of Celia" is an original acrylic painting featuring peaceful blue waters lapping a sandy beach. Van Fossan was born in Vail, Colorado, and began oil p...
Canvas, Acrylic
Flowers Abstract
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this piece, I've poured my zeal for nature's beauty into every stroke. The oil medium allowed me to layer textures, creating a tapestry of emotions. This painting evokes ...
Canvas, Oil
Before the rain, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Landscape with mountains, painted in the style of art impressionism art, art realism, art expressionism. The painting is painted in cool shades of gray and green. I have depicted i...
Oil
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Not Bounded
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
RICHARD
Located in Zofingen, AG
I crafted this painting using a vibrant mix of acrylic and oil, merging naive art with pop art energy, infusing the spirit of primitivism and a touch of impressionism. It's a visual ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,166Sale Price|20% Off
Warm summer waves
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've poured my passion into capturing the ephemeral dance of light on waves, weaving the energy of the sea with vibrant expressionistic strokes. Imagine feeling...
Canvas, Oil
$2,850Sale Price|25% Off
'Still Life of Fruit', Grande Chaumiere, Hans Hofmann, NY ASL, Monhegan, PAFA
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'A. Minewski' for Alexander Minewski (American, 1917-1979) and painted circa 1950. Born in Detroit, Alexander Minewski left home at the age of 14 to work in the circus. He subsequently worked as a sign painter and a logger. Minewski first studied at the Society of Arts and Crafts in Detroit (1936-1939) and received scholarships that allowed him to attend the Art Students League in New York City (1939-1942). There, he studied under artists including Jean Charlot, Ernest Fiene, George Grosz and Vaclav Vytlacil. During World War II, Minewski joined the army and fought as a combat engineer. Wounded in Burma while fighting with Merrill's Marauders, he spent two years there recovering from his wounds. Following his time in Burma, Minewski studied for two years on the G.I. Bill in Paris at the Académie de la Grande Chaumiere (1950-1952) and, independently, with Hans Hofmann in New York City (1952-1953). Hofmann was influential on his style and his work shifted away from a moody realism towards a fuller expressionism. In 1954, Minewski began spending his summers at the artist’s colony in Monhegan Island, Maine. While there, he was able to work and collaborate with other artists and friends such as Ted Davis...
Canvas, Oil
Bird on a branch (Cyornis rubeculoides)
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, infused with expressionism and realism, I captured the vivid essence and delicate poise of a small bird perched on a branch. The soft, blended background in gre...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Sunny pond 70X50 oil painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant oil on canvas, I sought to capture the serene yet lively spirit of nature. The dappling light dances on water, illuminating lily pads and blossoms, creating a symphon...
Canvas, Oil
$1,421Sale Price|20% Off
1970’s Huge French Expressionist Green Landscape Avenue of Trees, signed oil
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Avenue of Trees French Expressionist School, signed front and back Dated 1974 oil on canvas, framed framed: 37 x 44 inches canvas: 32 x 39 inches private collection, France the p...
Canvas, Oil
Fantasy with Flowers 14
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Fantasy with Flowers" (series of 200+ pictures) On the paper acrylic, oil pastel, felt-tip pen, ink, gold leaf, pencils, silver,mixed media. Flowers are a smile of the sun that gi...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
Original VINTAGE EXPRESSIONIST Oil Painting LANDSCAPE WITH HORSES Devon English
Located in Cirencester, GB
ARTIST: Barbara Vincent (1921-) English TITLE: "Landscape With Horses" SIGNED: lower right and dated 1969 MEDIUM: oil on board SIZE: 48cm x 39cm inclusive of frame CONDITION: very...
Oil
Impasto Poppies, Elena Lukina, Original Large Impasto Oil Painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Impasto Poppies" captures the essence of a dream inspired by the sun-kissed hills of Tuscany. It's a vibrant ode to idyllic summer days, where soft horizons meet the bold energy of ...
Canvas, Oil
Irises on Gold
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I merged the vibrancy of irises with a radiant gold background, capturing a blend of Impressionism and Realism. Using acrylics and oils, I wanted to evoke a sense o...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$825Sale Price|20% Off
Village. Oil on cardboard, 79. 5 x 100. 5 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Village. Oil on cardboard, 79.5 x 100.5 cm Aleksandr Rodin (1922-2001) Painter Born in a family of farmers. Wife Rasma Lace - art scholar. Studied at the Stalingrad School of Art, S...
Oil, Cardboard
Coral Poppies 30Х21
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vivid oil painting, I've captured the wild essence of poppies swaying with a liveliness that echoes the pulse of nature itself. Employing strokes influenced by impressionism ...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Fantasy with Flowers 19
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
Fantasy with Flowers 18
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
Sakura in the city park
Located in Zofingen, AG
"As the artist behind this canvas, I've infused life into the scenery, with vivid oil strokes blending impressionism and expressionism. It captures the transient beauty of blooms aga...
Canvas, Oil
Blooming pond 50X50 oil on canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant oil painting, I've poured my zest for nature and renewal. Brushstrokes blossom across the canvas, capturing the essence of a serene pond, where time seems suspended. ...
Canvas, Oil
Monstera 6, Vibrant Abstract Expressionist Foliage Original Mixed Media Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
In the realm of vibrant expressions, Italian artist Giuseppe Beddru masterfully brings to life abstracted flora in a spectacular fusion of color and form. The canvas dances with an o...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Teal Figurative Abstract
Located in Soquel, CA
Dynamic teal figurative abstract by San Jose, California area artist Daniel David Fuentes (American, 1978-2016). From a collection of his works. Signed "Daniel Fuentes" on verso. Unf...
Canvas, Oil
$1,520Sale Price|20% Off
Landscape 139 by Jean Krille - Oil on Canvas board 50x60 cm
By Jean Krille
Located in Geneva, CH
Jean Krillé’s paintings are known for their expressive use of color and dynamic, abstract forms, blending realism with abstraction in his depictions of nature. His landscapes often f...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Prosaic, female frontal nude oil painting lively brushwork, earth tones
By Tom Bennett
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This oil painting presents a powerful exploration of the fragmented human form and the emotive potential of abstraction. The figure, rendered in a dynamic fusion of expressive brushw...
Canvas, Oil
$2,600Sale Price|20% Off
I'm Alright, Just Here 2
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide 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 Gallery) "I'm Alright, Just Here" is a captivating artwork that captures the viewer's attention with its tender depiction of a young girl. The artist skillfully brings the subject to life, with delicate brushstrokes and meticulous attention to detail. The girl's features are portrayed with remarkable precision, revealing a sense of innocence and vulnerability that tugs at the heartstrings. The expression on the girl's face speaks volumes—a delicate blend of calmness and introspection. Her eyes, a window to her soul, radiate a sense of quiet strength and resilience, hinting at a pearl of wisdom beyond her years. Simon's choice to depict the girl alone, with no external distractions, creates a sense of intimacy and invites viewers to connect with her inner world. "I'm Alright, Just Here" explores the themes of solitude, self-reflection, and the resilience of youth. The title itself offers insight into the subject's state of mind—an assurance that she is content and at peace in her presence. It serves as a gentle reminder of the importance of finding solace within oneself, even amidst the chaos and noise of the world. The young girl's presence in the artwork represents the universal experience of navigating the complexities of life. Her portrayal invites viewers to reflect on their journey, prompting questions about the inner strength we possess and the moments of introspection we all seek. She becomes a mirror, reminding us to find moments of stillness and self-care, where we can gather strength and nurture our well-being. The muted color palette employed by Simon contributes to the contemplative mood of the artwork. Soft, earthy tones evoke a sense of serenity and harmony, further enhancing the atmosphere of quiet introspection. The artist's careful attention to the interplay of light and shadow adds depth to the girl's expression, underscoring the layers of emotion and resilience that lie beneath the surface. Obeka Simon...
Canvas, Oil
Summer Bouquet – Vibrant Floral Impressionist Painting on Canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Summer Bouquet” – Vibrant Floral Impressionist Painting on Canvas Bring the beauty of summer into your home with this stunning hand-painted floral artwork titled “Summer Bouquet.” ...
Oil
North African Prostitutes Red Light District Tunisia
Located in Miami, FL
For Playboy Magazine, German-American artist and illustrator Franz Altschuler paints a heart-pounding scene of a red-light district in Tunisia. What's immediately distinctive is how ...
Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
$1,080Sale Price|20% Off
Flourishing
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Flourishing," a masterpiece by Adegbola Deborah, is a visual testament to the profound philosophy that life's highest calling is not merely survival, but the active pursuit of thriv...
Canvas, Acrylic
$310Sale Price|20% Off
Fragment of a sea wave
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this painting, I sought to capture the essence and vitality of the sea. With each brushstroke, I instilled the raw power and restless spirit of ocean waves. This piece, c...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$1,280Sale Price|31% Off
"Lighthouse" by William GOLIASCH - Oil on wood 16x26 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Oil on wood sold with frame Total size with frame 36x47 cm William GOLIASCH is a Swiss artist born in 1922 and died in 1986. His works have been sold at public auction 100 times, ma...
Oil
$2,120Sale Price|20% Off
Beyond the Limits
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Beyond the Limits is a work that explains what youth in a developing country goes through. Most youth who have to experience the squalor of a developing economy are characterized by wholesale dejection and despair with many of them resorting to drug use and various crimes that jeopardized their lives. Many cannot see a future beyond their present abode. Artist Busari Adewale...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Lake and mountain landscape
Located in Genève, GE
Work on canvas
Oil
$7,800
"Lawn Chairs; Porch Light Communion" Modern Expressionist Figurative
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
"Lawn Chairs, Porch Light Communion" is from Sandra Jones Campbell's recent collection, "Please Be Seated," a series that displays her unique vision of the ...
Acrylic
GURU
By Daria Kusto
Located in CÓRDOBA, ES
Mixed media on paper Original art by DARIA KUSTO The magic flow reality.. Shipped well protected, rolled in a tube, unframed
Acrylic
Carnival Night 70X70
Located in Zofingen, AG
Carnival Night Venice, Carnival, masks, ladies in hats, Masquerade! What could be better to be in Venice on a festive Carnival night! Medieval costumes and dresses, beautiful ladies,...
Canvas, Oil
BLUE
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant canvas, I've melded the fluid grace of abstract art with the emotive brush strokes of impressionism and the bold visual appeal of pop art. I used acrylic and oil to w...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
Untitled 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Women with Large Afro Hair
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 Emma...
Canvas, Coffee, Mixed Media
Girl & Rooster Enamel Glazed Ceramic Plaque Israeli Artist Awret Naive Folk Art
By Irene Awret
Located in Surfside, FL
This is a rare ceramic plaque painted with enamel glaze by famed Israeli German artist Irene Awret is signed Awret Safed on the verso. the actual glazed ceramic is 10X15 inches. Irèn...
Enamel
Monstera 1, Turquoise Green Layered Foliage Abstract Landscape Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
In the realm of vibrant expressions, Italian artist Giuseppe Beddru masterfully brings to life abstracted flora in a spectacular fusion of color and form. The canvas dances with an o...
Canvas, Mixed Media
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
$1,671Sale Price|20% Off
Large French Expressionist Oil Painting Nude Bathers in Woodland
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: French School, mid 20th century Title: Nude Bathers Medium: oil painting on canvas, unframed Size: painting: 19.75 x 24 inches Provenance: France Condi...
Oil
$1,080Sale Price|20% Off
Sculpted Heritage (Beauty Within Us)
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The Beauty Within Us" is a compelling narrative series of paintings that celebrates the unique and diverse beauty of Black hair, serving as a powerful symbol of identity, heritage, a...
Canvas, Acrylic
"The Golden Hour" Modern Expressionist Figurative
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
"The Golden Hour" is am epic painting from Sandra Jones Campbell's recent Summer collection, a series that displays her unique vision of the world and is informed by her current soc...
Acrylic
$4,125Sale Price|25% Off
'Woman Sleeping', Large Modernist Figural Oil, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Portland
By Julio Lavallen
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
'Woman Sleeping' by Julio Lavallen, 1987. Large Modernist Figural Oil, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Portland ---- Signed lower left, 'Lavallen' for Julio Lavallen (Argentinian, born 195...
Canvas, Oil
Colorful water lily, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
In a fervent dance of color and texture, I've brought to life the serene beauty of nature's gentle floaters, the water lilies. Through energetic brush strokes in acrylics, my vision ...
Acrylic
$1,671Sale Price|20% Off
Provencal Landscape Poppy Fields Original Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning mid 20th century French Expressionist oil painting on canvas. The work depicts this gloriously vibrant and colourful landscape in Provence - we are told by the former owner it represents the Luberon Valley region in Provence, in the fields around Cucuron. We acquired the painting from a private collector in the heart of Provence who had owned the painting for many years. The work is unsigned but very, very close in every respect to the Corsican born artist PIERRE AMBROGIANI (1907-1985) and further research in this direction could be fruitful. Condition and Size: The painting is in good condition. The paint has begun to split in places as one would expect with such thickly applied oil paint. The canvas, unframed is 38cm x 55cm. Pierre Ambrogiani was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, although he was brought up in Marseille, where he continued to live and work for the rest of his life. He was an Expressionist painter of Provençal landscapes...
Oil
$60,000Sale Price|20% Off
'Light Keeper' by Masri - Stunning Expressionist Abstract Portrait - Mixed Media
Located in Carmel, CA
Masri (Lebanese-Italian, 1965) 'Light Keeper' 2022 Oil paint, magazine paper, mixed media, canvas, stretcher bars The artist signed the painting on the back and bottom left. 'Light ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Magazine Paper, Stretcher Bars
Fantasy with Flowers 13
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
Flowers on the window
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I poured my soul into capturing the transient beauty of blossoms basking in sunlight by a window. Each stroke embodies the dance between shadow and light, the d...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$947Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20thC Modernist/Expressionist Large oil European Landscape c1930's
Located in Frome, Somerset
A good large post impressionist/expressionist Landscape oil circa 1938 oil on canvas 75cmx90cm Gallery frame 87cmx102cm Fields with a small dwelling painted in expressive impastoed b...
Oil
Blonde, School of Paris Watercolor Painting by Charles Levier
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Charles Levier, French (1920 - 2003) Title: Blonde Year: circa 1970 Medium: Watercolor on paper, signed l.l. Size: 16 x 11 inches Paper Size: 25 x 19.5 in. (63.5 x 49.53 cm)
Watercolor
Summer. Flower field 17
Located in Zofingen, AG
Summer. Flower field 17. A sunny summer day, the whole earth is warmed by warmth, a flowering field, flowers, colorful poppies, the sky create an atmosphere of relaxation, harmony, r...
Acrylic
$1,840Sale Price|20% Off
Seclusion
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Seclusion" is a captivating artwork created by Kehinde Oyafajo that depicts a lady sitting on the floor with her hand resting on a stool. The lady is dressed in a sensual way and is...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
Courageous Spirit
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Tunde Bakare, a visionary artist with an uncanny ability to infuse profound emotions into his works, has risen to prominence for his powerful portrayal of marginalized voices and the...
Canvas, Oil
Irises on the pond
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I sought to capture the ephemeral beauty of irises by the pond's edge, reflecting my deep admiration for nature's transient moments. The oils allowed me to blend vi...
Canvas, Oil, Linen
Poolside, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A figure lounges by the poolside, one knee raised and arms draped casually over it. The person radiates a relaxed, contemplative mood. With loose brushstrings...
Acrylic
Overgrown pond
Located in Zofingen, AG
In my creation, I've endeavored to capture the serene beauty of nature's embrace, where a hidden pond, overgrown with life, reflects a sky softly blurred by the morning mist. I've in...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
Sakura 2 Colorful Abstract Interior Painting by Iryna Kastsova
Located in Zofingen, AG
Sakura 2. Japanese tree. Acrylic paints in soft pink, pastel pink, cream, burgundy, yellow, peach, cream, opal white, magenta, and creamy pink splattered and splattered, creating a s...
Acrylic