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.
Strength - NYC Architecture Photography, 36"x52", Signed Limited Edition of 5
By Viet Chu
Located in New York, NY
" I wanted to find a symbol of strength and resiliency for NYC and through the framing of the Empire State Building by the Manhattan Bridge, and I believe it is represented here. The...
Archival Pigment
"Model in black & white" Photography on canvas
Located in Carmel, CA
Malissa - "Model in black & white" Photography on canvas The photograph comes with a certificate of authenticity and a letter of appraisal.
Canvas, Photographic Film, Black and White
Gold Dust
Located in East Hampton, NY
Black & White Photography Gold Dust Printed to Order Unframed Also available in 20"x30" The area that would become Gold Point, one of Nevada’s best ghost towns, was first settled ...
Archival Pigment
Sound of the Sea
By Harold Davis
Located in Boston, MA
Artist Commentary: Using an x-ray photograph as its basis, this expressive study in motion echoes work by Picasso and other modernists. Words that describe this piece: shell, Nauti...
Photographic Paper
$3,428
H 21.54 in W 29.53 in D 0.08 in
Signed limited edition Figurative photo, Black white man, Homoerotic - Mathew 2
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
An original signed archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta 315 gsm paper by Scottish artist Ian Sanderson (1951- 2020) titled ‘ Mathew 2 ‘ who was captured on film in...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Black and White, Giclée, Pigment, Arc...
$606
H 9.85 in W 7.88 in D 0.2 in
Bubbles - black and white abstract photography, Limited edition of 20
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
'Bubbles' London, United Kingdom 2020 Limited edition of 20. Printed on Hahnemuhle photo rag baryta paper. Signed and stamped from and back using emboss and certificate of authen...
Photographic Paper, Giclée
$2,857
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 0.08 in
Ben 2 -Signed limited edition contemporary, Black white, Homoerotic photography
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
An original signed archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta 315 gsm paper by Scottish artist Ian Sanderson (1951- 2020) titled ‘Ben 2 ‘ who was captured on film in 1989...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, ...
$2,350
H 39 in W 39 in D 0.1 in
"Lily 2" Black & White Photograph 39" x 39" in Limited Ed. 1/3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Lily 2" Black & White Photograph 39" x 39" in Limited Ed. 1/3 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Comes with COA issued by the ...
Photographic Paper
$2,350
H 39 in W 39 in D 0.1 in
"Lily 1" Abstract Figurative Photography 39" x 39" in Ed. 1/3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Lily 1" Abstract Figurative Photography 39" x 39" in Ed. 1/3 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Comes with COA issued by the ar...
Photographic Paper
$3,428
H 23.63 in W 23.63 in D 0.08 in
Figurative photo, Portrait limited print, Contemporary print, Black white- Ben 2
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
An original signed archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta 315 gsm paper by Scottish artist Ian Sanderson (1951- 2020) titled ‘Ben 2 ‘ who was captured on film in 1989...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, ...
$3,428
H 37.8 in W 27.56 in D 0.08 in
Rachael - Signed limited edition sexy print, Contemporary, Black High Heels
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Rachael - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film in 1983. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which was then...
Archival Paper, Black and White, Giclée, Archival Pigment, Photographic ...
$899
H 29.5 in W 27.5 in D 0.15 in
Moon Over (After Ansel Adams), Abstract Black & White Photo by Bill Clark
By Bill Clark
Located in Soquel, CA
"Moon Over", an abstract black & white photograph after Ansel Adams by Bill Clark (American, 20th Century). Signed "Bill Clark" and dated "1996" lower right. Titled "Moon Over" lower...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$2,857
H 20.48 in W 13.78 in D 0.08 in
Old couple - Signed limited edition fine art print, Black white, Paris Vintage
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Old couple, Paris - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film. The negative was scanned creating...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Black and White, Giclée, Pigment, Arc...
$3,428
H 19.3 in W 29.53 in D 0.08 in
L'Amour- Romantic, Signed limited edition fine art, Sensual, Beach, Contemporary
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
L' Amour - Signed limited edition archival pigment print , 1993 - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which was the...
Archival Paper, Black and White, Archival Pigment, Photographic Film, Pi...
$1,850
H 31 in W 31 in D 0.1 in
"Lily 1" Abstract Figurative Photography 31" x 31" in Ed. 1/7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Lily 1" Abstract Figurative Photography 31" x 31" in Ed. 1/7 by Olha Stepanian Printed on Epson Professional Paper Signed and numbered by the artist Comes with COA issued by the ar...
Photographic Paper
$2,857
H 21.66 in W 15.75 in D 0.08 in
Rachael - Signed limited edition, Underwear, Woman wit High heels and Suspenders
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Rachael - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film in 1983. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which was then...
Archival Paper, Black and White, Archival Pigment, Photographic Film, Pi...
Sold
H 32 in W 54 in
Bullish Night - NYC Photography, 32"x54", Signed Limited Edition of 4
By Viet Chu
Located in New York, NY
" As a part of my Empty Streets of New York City series, I wanted to include the Wall Street Bull which represents one of the core tenet of the financial might of the city during the...
Archival Pigment
Bombay Star Series #3
By James Mannix
Located in East Hampton, NY
Bombay Beach , California Photography Edition of 10 UNFRAMED: Print to Order About the Artist: Short Biography in a Nutshell: A fun journey My first foray into the art world was ...
Photographic Paper