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Modern Paintings

MODERN STYLE

The first decades of the 20th century were a period of artistic upheaval, with modern art movements including Cubism, Surrealism, Futurism and Dadaism questioning centuries of traditional views of what art should be. Using abstraction, experimental forms and interdisciplinary techniques, painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers and performance artists all pushed the boundaries of creative expression.

Major exhibitions, like the 1913 Armory Show in New York City — also known as the “International Exhibition of Modern Art,” in which works like the radically angular Nude Descending a Staircase by Marcel Duchamp caused a sensation — challenged the perspective of viewers and critics and heralded the arrival of modern art in the United States. But the movement’s revolutionary spirit took shape in the 19th century.

The Industrial Revolution, which ushered in new technology and cultural conditions across the world, transformed art from something mostly commissioned by the wealthy or the church to work that responded to personal experiences. The Impressionist style emerged in 1860s France with artists like Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne and Edgar Degas quickly painting works that captured moments of light and urban life. Around the same time in England, the Pre-Raphaelites, like Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, borrowed from late medieval and early Renaissance art to imbue their art with symbolism and modern ideas of beauty.

Emerging from this disruption of the artistic status quo, modern art went further in rejecting conventions and embracing innovation. The bold legacy of leading modern artists Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dalí, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Piet Mondrian and many others continues to inform visual culture today.

Find a collection of modern paintings, sculptures, prints and other fine art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Modern
Guy Pene du Bois WPA American Modernism Realism NYC Scene Oil Lawyers in Court
Guy Pene du Bois WPA American Modernism Realism NYC Scene Oil Lawyers in Court

Guy Pene du Bois WPA American Modernism Realism NYC Scene Oil Lawyers in Court

By Guy Pène Du Bois

Located in New York, NY

Guy Pene du Bois (1884-1958) "Two Figures in a Courtroom" 16 x 22 inches Oil on paper mounted to, c. 1945 Framed: 25 x 31 inches Provenance: James Graham & Sons Gallery Guy Pene du Bois' "Two Figures in Courtroom" is a WPA era American scene oil painting created in a realistic style. Modernism at its best The work is framed by Heydenryk. Pène du Bois descended from French immigrants who settled in Louisiana in 1738 and was raised in a Creole household. He was born in 1884 in Brooklyn, NY and first studied with William Merritt Chase at the New York School of Art and later continued his training with Robert Henri. Pène du Bois was greatly impressed with Henri's credo that "real life" was subject matter for art and throughout his life a realist philosophy informed his art as well as his parallel career, art criticism. In 1905, Pène du Bois made his first visit to Paris where he painted scenes of fashionable people in cafes rendered in the dark tonalities and impasto associated with the Ashcan School. By 1920, he had achieved his mature style, which was characterized by stylized, rounded, almost sculptural figures painted with invisible brushstrokes. The subjects of his paintings were often members of society whom he gently satirized. In 1924, Pène du Bois and his wife, Floy, left for France where they would remain until 1930. Returning to America showcases pictures the artist produced after this very productive period abroad. After five years of living in France, Pène du Bois was able to observe American life with fresh eyes. His work becomes more psychologically intense and less satirical. In Girl at Table a slender, blond is shown gazing at a small statue that she holds at arm's distance. The meaning is elusive, but a powerful sense of longing is evoked. Similarly, paintings such as Dramatic Moment and Jane are taut with unresolved dialogue. Both pictures depict mysterious interiors in which a lone woman anxiously awaits the denouement of a suspenseful scene. Other pictures, for example, Chess Tables, Washington Square and Bar, New Orleans, recall Pene du Bois's Ashcan origins in their depiction of urban entertainment. During this period, landscape becomes an important subject for Pène du Bois. Girl Sketching...

Category

1930s Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil, Board

Blue Abstract by Frank Sinatra
Blue Abstract by Frank Sinatra

Blue Abstract by Frank Sinatra

By Frank Sinatra

Located in New Orleans, LA

Frank Sinatra 1915-1998 American Blue Abstract Signed "Sinatra 90" (lower right) Acrylic on canvas Widely considered the greatest American pop singer of the 20th century, Frank S...

Category

20th Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Abstract Work on Paper Mid-Century Modernism Greek American Gouache Drawing
Abstract Work on Paper Mid-Century Modernism Greek American Gouache Drawing

Abstract Work on Paper Mid-Century Modernism Greek American Gouache Drawing

By Jean Xceron

Located in New York, NY

Abstract Work on Paper Mid-Century Modernism Greek American Gouache Drawing. A modernist artist who emigrated to America from Greece in 1904, when he was fourteen years old, Jean Xceron is described as having a reputation as an artist that has mysteriously fallen into obscurity---especially since he was reportedly quite prominent during his lifetime. However, a partial explanation of that omission is the fact that many of his papers and early records have been lost. He was a painter of biomorphic abstractions and did collages, which were influenced by Dadaism. Xceron was active in New York City when modernism was gaining influence. Of him during this period, it was written that his artistic role was "a vital link between what is commonly termed as the first-generation (the Stieglitz group, the Synchromists, etc.) and second-generation, the American Abstract Artists, the Transcendental Painting...

Category

1940s Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Contemporary Original Mini Impressionist Still Life Oil Painting - Cherries
Contemporary Original Mini Impressionist Still Life Oil Painting - Cherries

Contemporary Original Mini Impressionist Still Life Oil Painting - Cherries

Located in Bristol, GB

CHERRIES Size: 20 x 20 cm Oil on Canvas board This is a round oil painting on canvas board featuring a scattered arrangement of deep red cherries. The cherries are depicted with a r...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

In Tune 75 - Original Contemporary Shiny Resin Minimalist Warm Tone Layered Art
In Tune 75 - Original Contemporary Shiny Resin Minimalist Warm Tone Layered Art

In Tune 75 - Original Contemporary Shiny Resin Minimalist Warm Tone Layered Art

By Ricky Hunt

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Ricky Hunt’s mixed media minimalist wall art is influenced by his tumultuous past that led to a paradigm shift in creativity and life. He covers the wood panel with layers of acrylic...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Paintings

Materials

Resin, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Wood Panel

Portrait of a Parisian Woman
Portrait of a Parisian Woman

Portrait of a Parisian Woman

Located in London, GB

Nicolle was born in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia as it was then) and grew up in Africa and then travelled the world for some years before settling in the Uk. “My love of colour stems from my ...

Category

2010s Modern Paintings

Materials

Chalk, Mixed Media, Acrylic

Paul K. Smith Zinnia Flowers Still Life Oil Modernist Studio Painting
Paul K. Smith Zinnia Flowers Still Life Oil Modernist Studio Painting

Paul K. Smith Zinnia Flowers Still Life Oil Modernist Studio Painting

Located in Denver, CO

A vibrant and highly collectible American Modernist still life by Paul Kauvar Smith, this original oil on board presents a richly composed studio scene centered on a bouquet of zinni...

Category

20th Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Oil

R.E.M. - Murmur (Grammy, Album Art, Iconic, Rock and Roll, Pop, Legendary)
R.E.M. - Murmur (Grammy, Album Art, Iconic, Rock and Roll, Pop, Legendary)

R.E.M. - Murmur (Grammy, Album Art, Iconic, Rock and Roll, Pop, Legendary)

By Kerry Smith

Located in Kansas City, MO

Kerry Smith R.E.M. - Murmur Mixed Media on Crescent board Year: 2022 Size: 21x20in Signed, dated by hand COA provided Ref.: 924802-1633 *Black frame with a mirror-gloss finish avail...

Category

2010s Modern Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Acrylic, Gouache, Board

Cirrus. Acrylic on canvas. Úbeda. Modern Vertical Landscape
Cirrus. Acrylic on canvas. Úbeda. Modern Vertical Landscape

Cirrus. Acrylic on canvas. Úbeda. Modern Vertical Landscape

By Ángel Luis Úbeda

Located in Segovia, ES

Cirrus Acrylic / canvas 150 x 50 cm. Vertical landscape where the predominance of the sky transmits the living and real contact with the fresh and transparent air, its luminosity nuanced by the thin bands of some clouds. (The artist frames almost all his paintings with a wooden strip between 0,5 and 1 cm. thick, which can be removed at will of the client). NB: This painting can be combined as a diptych or triptych with two other items by the same artist: Cirrocumulus (item reference: LU74439055992) Cumulonimbus (item reference: LU74439055402) ABOUT THE ARTIST Ángel Luis Úbeda...

Category

2010s Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

At Home 2, Painting, Acrylic on Paper
At Home 2, Painting, Acrylic on Paper

At Home 2, Painting, Acrylic on Paper

By Christel Haag

Located in Yardley, PA

In times of Corona and the Social Distancing we stay much more at home then usually. That can be good as well: We do have more time to get to know ourselves better. Even we have more...

Category

2010s Modern Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Mid Century Modern Swedish Expressive Still Life Oil Painting - Violin & Flowers
Mid Century Modern Swedish Expressive Still Life Oil Painting - Violin & Flowers

Mid Century Modern Swedish Expressive Still Life Oil Painting - Violin & Flowers

Located in Bristol, GB

VIOLIN & FLOWERS Size: 67 x 58 cm (including frame) Oil on canvas A charming and atmospheric mid-century still life depicting a beautifully balanced arrangement of everyday obje...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Schlawinchen, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Schlawinchen, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Schlawinchen, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By Christel Haag

Located in Yardley, PA

"Schlawinchen" is a small, lively, colorful painting on canvas. It has many overpaintings, giving it great depth. It's a fun little work of art that will make you smile - and th...

Category

2010s Modern Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Heron by Mountain Lake, Modern Oil on Board, Signed, Mid-20th Century
Heron by Mountain Lake, Modern Oil on Board, Signed, Mid-20th Century

Heron by Mountain Lake, Modern Oil on Board, Signed, Mid-20th Century

Located in Harkstead, GB

A very atmospheric scene of a majestic heron sitting before a sunset in an extensive mountainous landscape, the sun dramatically breaking through the clouds, mostly likely at sunrise...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

1972 Original Expressive Impasto Still Life Oil Painting - Sunflowers in Bloom
1972 Original Expressive Impasto Still Life Oil Painting - Sunflowers in Bloom

1972 Original Expressive Impasto Still Life Oil Painting - Sunflowers in Bloom

Located in Bristol, GB

SUNFLOWERS IN BLOOM Size: 75.5 x 58.5 cm (including frame) Oil on canvas A lively and beautifully textured floral still life painting that celebrates the beauty of everyday objects,...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

A 1930s Modern Street Scene of St. Charles Street, New Orleans, Exhibited- AIC
A 1930s Modern Street Scene of St. Charles Street, New Orleans, Exhibited- AIC

A 1930s Modern Street Scene of St. Charles Street, New Orleans, Exhibited- AIC

By Walter Burt Adams

Located in Chicago, IL

A Colorful 1930s Modern Street Scene of St. Charles Street, New Orleans by Notable Chicago Artist, Walter Burt Adams (Am. 1903-1990). A vibrant, painterly view of a sunlit street corner and store front in the historic Garden District of New Orleans, Louisiana. Completed in 1938 during one of the artist's painting trips to New Orleans, and most likely painted in the quiet morning hours, a favored time to paint by the artist. A wonderful example of Walter Burt Adams renowned Urban Realism of the 1930s and '40s, inspired by the artwork of fellow American painter, Edward Hopper. Exhibited: "The 42nd Annual Exhibition of Artists of Chicago and Vicinity", Art Institute of Chicago (AIC), Chicago, IL, 1938, #4. Artwork size: 20 x 25 inches, oil on canvas, accompanied with the artist's original frame (framed size: 26 1/2 x 31 1/2 inches). Signed and dated Walter Burt Adams 38, lower left; signed and dated on reverse. Provenance: Estate of the artist. Walter Burt Adams was a dedicated painter of the American Scene and a singular personality among his peers in the Chicago Modern Art community. His no-nonsense manner, devotion to his craft and sardonic sense of humor characterize a man whose paintings capture life in and around Chicago between the early 1920s and the late 1970s. Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin just after the turn of the last century, Walter Burt Adams spent his childhood in Fargo, North Dakota and began his artistic education there through a correspondence cartooning class as a boy. After finishing high school in Fargo, Adams moved to Chicago in 1922 in order to enroll at the school of the Art Institute of Chicago. Adams’ instruction at the school with artists such as George Oberteuffer, Frederick V. Poole, Charles Wilimovsky...

Category

1930s Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Küchenstillleben
Küchenstillleben

Küchenstillleben

By Heinrich Krause

Located in Wien, 9

If one tries to describe Heinrich Krause’s almost one-century work in a few words, one recognizes an artist who, despite continuously changing artistic trends, remains faithful to ce...

Category

20th Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Oil

Vintage Mid Century Modern Still Life Gouache Painting - Pitcher and Grapes
Vintage Mid Century Modern Still Life Gouache Painting - Pitcher and Grapes

Vintage Mid Century Modern Still Life Gouache Painting - Pitcher and Grapes

Located in Bristol, GB

PITCHER AND GRAPES Size: 55 x 73 cm (including frame) Gouache on paper A lively and brilliantly executed mid-century modernist style interior still life composition, executed in gou...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Man in a Hat, Signed Oil Portrait on Board, Mid-Century Modern Art
Man in a Hat, Signed Oil Portrait on Board, Mid-Century Modern Art

Man in a Hat, Signed Oil Portrait on Board, Mid-Century Modern Art

By Jean Perret

Located in Cotignac, FR

French, mid century gouache and watercolour on card, Fauvist landscape with cherry trees in blossom by Jean Perret. The painting is signed bottom right. This painting presents a cap...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Hidden Portraits XXXII, Modern Acrylic on Canvas, Framed, Circa 1980s
Hidden Portraits XXXII, Modern Acrylic on Canvas, Framed, Circa 1980s

Hidden Portraits XXXII, Modern Acrylic on Canvas, Framed, Circa 1980s

Located in London, GB

'Hidden Portraits XXXII', acrylic on canvas mounted on board, Florentine School (circa 1980s-90s). This gallery has acquired a number of paintings through an intermediary of an agein...

Category

1980s Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Board

Catalan Landscape at Dusk, Oil on Panel, by Santiago Rusiñol
Catalan Landscape at Dusk, Oil on Panel, by Santiago Rusiñol

Catalan Landscape at Dusk, Oil on Panel, by Santiago Rusiñol

Located in Sant Celoni, ES

SANTIAGO RUSIÑOL I PRATS (Barcelona, 1861 – Aranjuez, 1931). "Catalan Landscape at Dusk, Oil on Panel, by Santiago Rusiñol." Oil on panel. Signed lower left. Framed dimensions: 23.5 ...

Category

Early 20th Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Oil

A Place to Go, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
A Place to Go, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

A Place to Go, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By Christel Haag

Located in Yardley, PA

"A Place to Go" is a colorful and positive acrylic painting on canvas. It is painted in the Informel tradition, in a dynamic and gestural style. The main colors are turquoise, pink, ...

Category

2010s Modern Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Hurricane in the Afternoon original Oil
Hurricane in the Afternoon original Oil

Hurricane in the Afternoon original Oil

Located in Soquel, CA

Hurricane in the Afternoon original Oil Modernist look at a Hurricane coming by Pennsylvania artist John R. Fell (American/English, 1917-2009) Image 18"H x 48"W Frame 19"H x 49"L x ...

Category

1960s Modern Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Young boy by Max Band - Portrait painting
Young boy by Max Band - Portrait painting

Young boy by Max Band - Portrait painting

By Max Band

Located in London, GB

Young boy by Max Band (1901-1974) Oil on canvas 81.2 x 54.4 cm (32 x 21³/₈ inches) Signed lower left Max Band Provenance Private collection, London

Category

20th Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Oil

Wildly colorful painting of an African American band set at Blue Note studios
Wildly colorful painting of an African American band set at Blue Note studios

Wildly colorful painting of an African American band set at Blue Note studios

Located in Colfax, CA

A wildly colorful depiction of black musicians doing a set at the Blue Note studios. This painting is signed lower left, 'DAMU'. We have not been able to attribute this work to a pa...

Category

1980s Modern Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Board

Still Life with Dahlias
Still Life with Dahlias

Still Life with Dahlias

By Michel Henry

Located in Sheffield, MA

Michel Henry French, 1928- Still Life with Dahlias Oil on canvas 28 ¾ by 39 ½ in, w/ frame 38 ½ by 49 in Signed lower right Michel-Henry is acknowledged as an important painter in ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Oil

Lilly Pads
Lilly Pads

Lilly Pads

Located in Sheffield, MA

Antonio Y Mencia Garcia Spanish 1853-1915 Lily Pads Oil on canvas 24 by 29 in, w/ frame 31 by 36 in Signed lower left Inventory Number: 01257 Student of Matias Lavina. He made his...

Category

Late 19th Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Flowers Polka Dot Background
Flowers Polka Dot Background

Flowers Polka Dot Background

Located in Zofingen, AG

Acrylic painting on canvas Size: 70 × 92 × 2 cm (unframed) This modern abstract acrylic painting features bold black flowers in minimalist vases set against a vibrant polka dot background. The playful mix of red, pink, and blue dots adds a pop of color to the clean white canvas, creating a striking contrast with the graphic black floral silhouettes. With its contemporary and minimalist style, this artwork makes a statement piece for any modern interior. Perfect for adding charm and vibrancy to living rooms, bedrooms, or creative spaces, the design blends elements of abstract floral art with the playfulness of pop art. Whether you're looking for unique wall decor to brighten your space or a thoughtful gift for art lovers, this painting combines modern aesthetics with a touch of whimsy. Bring joy and elegance into your home with this one-of-a-kind artwork! abstract floral painting, modern wall art, polka dot art, black flower painting...

Category

2010s Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Contemporary Abstract Unframed Painting - Blue Tiger, 2023
Contemporary Abstract Unframed Painting - Blue Tiger, 2023

Contemporary Abstract Unframed Painting - Blue Tiger, 2023

Located in Bristol, GB

BLUE TIGER Size: 50 x 40 cm (including frame) Acrylic on canvas A bold and dynamic contemporary geometric abstract painting, executed in acrylic onto canvas and dated 2023. Visuall...

Category

2010s Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Father & Child
Father & Child

Father & Child

By Renato Guttuso

Located in Sheffield, MA

Renato Guttuso Italian 1911-1987 Father & Child Oil on canvas 30 ½ by 19 in. W/frame 31 ½ in. by 20 in. Signed verso "Guttuso" Signed lower center "Guttuso" Dated 1966 Titled vers...

Category

1960s Modern Paintings

Materials

Oil

Breath of Fresh Sky
Breath of Fresh Sky

Breath of Fresh Sky

By Andrew Kinmont

Located in London, GB

Andrew studied Fine Art at University of Wales, graduating with a first class Honours degree in 2007. He then obtained further training through St Martins College London and Westdene...

Category

2010s Modern Paintings

Materials

Oil

Modern paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Modern paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, orange, purple, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Bernard Labbe, Christel Haag, Sunil Das, and Antonio Feltrinelli. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Modern paintings, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available.