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.
L’étoile, from the series Fantômes
By Diana Markosian
Located in Los Angeles, CA
L’étoile, from the series Fantômes, 2025. © Diana Markosian / Aperture Framed and Signed Magnum/Aperture square print sale Diana Markosian takes an intimate approach to her photogr...
Archival Pigment
$975
Point Sur Light House, Big Sur, California - Cyanotype / Watercolor Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Soft watercolor accents add to the beauty of this unique cyanotype and watercolor landscape of the Point Sur Lighthouse in Big Sur, California by Cheryl Trotter (American, 20th centu...
Photographic Film, Watercolor
"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
Peacock displaying in Magenta and Yellow Birds
By Robert Funk
Located in Miami, FL
The reality is that this is an eye-witness account of a male peacock displaying for the attention of a female peahen. It turns out that humans are equally...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
$5,000
Skid Row Bowery Street Portrait - The Streets of New York - Photojournalism
Located in Miami, FL
Street Photographer Mitchell Funk breaks with tradition and shoots street photography in color. Today in 2022, this does not seem like a big deal. But 52 years ago, in 1970, it was q...
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
$2,914
H 21.26 in W 13.78 in D 0.08 in
Audrey- Signed limited edition fine art print, Sensual, Contemporary
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Audrey - Signed limited edition archival pigment print , Edition of 5 This is an Archival Pigment print on fiber based paper ( Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta 315 gsm , Acid-free and...
Archival Paper, Black and White, Giclée, Archival Pigment, Pigment, Phot...
$2,914
H 20.63 in W 13.78 in D 0.01 in
Sandrine - Signed limited edition nude photography, Contemporary black white
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Sandrine 2 - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 5 Naked woman from behind at a window of an old flat in Brittany, France. Sensual view of her swaying hips ...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, ...
$4,206
H 40 in W 29.13 in D 0.02 in
Stretch - Signed limited edition semi nude fine art print, Sexy Black white
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Stretch - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 10 This image was captured on film in 1982. From the same photoshoot, the so-called 'Zip' print by Ian Sa...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, ...
$4,206
H 29.53 in W 24.02 in D 0.01 in
Figurative photograph nude fine art print, Contemporary black white - Sandrine
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 ‘ Sandrine ‘. Signed by Ian Sanderson ...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, ...
$3,505
H 29.61 in W 19.69 in D 0.08 in
Sarah 2- Signed limited edition nude print, Black white, Model Contemporary
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Sarah 2 - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 5 Photographed in Brighton, England in 1989 The legacy of Ian is deeply woven into the fabric of our gallery...
Archival Paper, Black and White, Archival Pigment, Photographic Film, Pi...
$730
H 40 in W 55.2 in
Foamy Clouds Diptych in Blue, Stormy Sky Scene, Handmade Cyanotype Print, Paper
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This is an exclusive handprinted limited edition cyanotype diptych of foamy gorgeous clouds. Details: + Title: Floating Clouds Diptych + Year: 2023 + Edition Size: 20 + Stamped and ...
Photographic Film, Emulsion, Watercolor, C Print, Color, Dye Transfer, L...
$3,147
H 14.57 in W 19.69 in D 0.08 in
Contemporary nude print, Black white Portrait photo, Sensual Model - Sacha..
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 ‘Sacha and Pearl ‘ who was captured on f...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, ...
$2,921
H 19.69 in W 14.18 in D 0.08 in
Christian - Signed limited edition fine art print, Black white photo, Homoerotic
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Christian - Signed limited edition archival pigment print, 1984 - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which was then pr...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Black and White, Pigment, Archival Pi...
$700
H 24 in W 18 in D 0.1 in
Untitled (Nr. 2229) Photography 24" x 18" Edition 2/20 by Ben Cope
By Ben Cope
Located in Culver City, CA
Untitled (Nr. 2229) Photography 24" x 18" Edition 2/20 by Ben Cope Unframed - ships rolled in a tube Signed and numbered by the artist. Comes with COA issued by the artist. Ben Cop...
Archival Pigment
$4,080
H 40 in W 29.52 in D 0.02 in
Stocking -Signed limited edition print, Black white photo, Contemporary, Sexy
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Stockings - Signed limited edition archival pigment print - Edition of 5 This image was captured on film in 1982. This print that is being offered is a high-quality Archival...
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Photographic Film, Black and White, ...
$3,505
H 33.08 in W 21.66 in D 0.08 in
Lisa- Signed limited edition print, Black white, Woman, Sensual, Contemporary
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Lisa - Edition of 5 signed + numbered by artist with certificate of authenticity, unframed Please note. There are three sizes of this archival pigment print; each is an edition of ...
Archival Paper, Black and White, Archival Pigment, Photographic Film, Gi...
$4,080
H 40 in W 19.13 in D 0.02 in
Zip - Signed limited edition print, Black white photo, Sensual, Contemporary
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Zip - Signed limited edition archival pigment print , Edition of 10 This image was captured on film in 1982. From the same photoshoot, the so-called 'Stretch' print by Ian Sand...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Black and White, Pigment, Archival Pi...