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.
Mirando al Cielo 7 - Murmuration Japan Asiatic Landscape Photograph
By Rosa Basurto
Located in Brighton, GB
Mirando al Cielo 7 is a beautiful 30cm x 30cm Digital Print on 50cm x 50cm Cotton Paper. This is a Limited Edition of 9 + 2 Artist Proofs in this size. In this image by Spanish ph...
Photographic Paper, Digital, Color
Broome at Mercer - NYC Photography, 32"x54", Signed Limited Edition of 4
By Viet Chu
Located in New York, NY
" I started my Empty Streets of New York City series in SoHo at the start of the Covid pandemic (early 2020) because of the uniqueness and beautiy of the iron cast buildings, includi...
Archival Pigment
Mirando al Cielo 8 - Renaissance Landscape Swallows Murmuration Landscape
By Rosa Basurto
Located in Brighton, GB
Mirando al Cielo 8 is a beautiful 30cm x 30cm Digital Print on 50cm x 50cm Cotton Paper. This is a Limited Edition of 9 + 2 Artist Proofs in this size. Rosa Basurto is a self-taught...
Color, Digital, Photographic Paper, C Print
Mirando al Cielo 11 - Birds Murmuration in Sky Mountain Region Japan Photograph
By Rosa Basurto
Located in Brighton, GB
Mirando al Cielo 11 is a beautiful 30cm x 30cm Digital Print on 50cm x 50cm Cotton Paper. This is a Limited Edition of 9 + 2 Artist Proofs in this size. Rosa Basurto is a self-taugh...
Color, Digital, Photographic Paper, C Print
Wall Street Bull - NYC Photography, 54"x36", Signed Limited Edition of 5
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 financi...
Archival Pigment
Mirando al Cielo 13 - Murmuration Countryside Landscape Photograph
By Rosa Basurto
Located in Brighton, GB
Mirando al Cielo 13 is a beautiful 30cm x 30cm Digital Print on 50cm x 50cm Cotton Paper. This is a Limited Edition of 9 + 2 Artist Proofs in this size. Rosa Basurto is a self-taug...
Color, Digital, Photographic Paper, C Print
Mirando al Cielo 15 - Murmuration Asiatic Countryside Landscape
By Rosa Basurto
Located in Brighton, GB
Mirando al Cielo 15 is a beautiful 30cm x 30cm Digital Print on 50cm x 50cm Cotton Paper. This is a Limited Edition of 9 + 2 Artist Proofs in this size. Rosa Basurto is a self-ta...
Color, Digital, Photographic Paper, C Print
Mirando al Cielo 12 - Birds Murmuration Sky Landscape Photograph
By Rosa Basurto
Located in Brighton, GB
Mirando al Cielo 12 is a beautiful 30cm x 30cm Digital Print on 50cm x 50cm Cotton Paper. This is a Limited Edition of 9 + 2 Artist Proofs in this size. Rosa Basurto is a self-taug...
Color, Digital, Photographic Paper, C Print
Mirando al Cielo 6 - Murmuration Misty Country Landscape Photograph
By Rosa Basurto
Located in Brighton, GB
Mirando al Cielo 6 is a beautiful 30cm x 30cm Digital Print on 50cm x 50cm Cotton Paper. This is a Limited Edition of 9 + 2 Artist Proofs in this size. Rosa Basurto is a self-taught...
Color, C Print, Photographic Paper, Digital
Mirando al Cielo 5 - Countryside Murmuration Misty Landscape Photograph
By Rosa Basurto
Located in Brighton, GB
Mirando al Cielo 5 is a beautiful 30cm x 30cm Digital Print on 50cm x 50cm Cotton Paper. This is a Limited Edition of 9 + 2 Artist Proofs in this size. Rosa Basurto is a self-taught...
Photographic Paper, Color, C Print, Digital
Mirando al Cielo 2 - Misty Landscape Countryside Murmuration Photograph Print
By Rosa Basurto
Located in Brighton, GB
Mirando al Cielo 2 is a beautiful 30cm x 30cm Digital Print on 50cm x 50cm Cotton Paper. This is a Limited Edition of 9 + 2 Artist Proofs in this size. Rosa Basurto is a self-taught...
Cotton, Photographic Paper, Digital, C Print
Mirando al Cielo 3 - Lone Walker Countryside Murmuration Landscape Photograph
By Rosa Basurto
Located in Brighton, GB
Mirando al Cielo 3 is a beautiful 30cm x 30cm Digital Print on 50cm x 50cm Cotton Paper. This is a Limited Edition of 9 + 2 Artist Proofs in this size. Rosa Basurto is a self-taught...
Photographic Paper, Color, Digital, C Print
MetLife - NYC Architecture Photography, 54"x36", Signed Limited Edition of 5
By Viet Chu
Located in New York, NY
"Taken at around 6pm on Mar 28, 2020, Park Avenue was practically deserted and empty. I was standing on E 63rd St when I took this photo. I used a 70-200mm lens to compress the scene...
Archival Pigment
$4,200
Hudson Yards Mood - NY Skyline Photography, 54"x36", Signed Limited Edition of 5
By Viet Chu
Located in New York, NY
"Standing at 16 ft tall, "Brick House" is a bronze statue made by artist Simone Leigh as an inaugural commission of the High Line Plinth (NYC) in 2019, wh...
Archival Pigment
Manhattanhenge Phenomenon, Mystical Light Setting Sun, Manhattan Solstice
Located in Miami, FL
Mitchell Funk has been chronicling lighting effects in New York for over 50 years. This recent photography captures the magical moment of golden light pouring into 42nd street while...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment
Dog Walker in Central Park Snow
Located in Miami, FL
Simultaneously, graphic and subtle, New York's classic Central Park South skyline is puntucated with a solitary figure with two dogs Signed and dated on lower right, numbered on v...
Photographic Paper
Manhattanhenge Phenomenon, Mystical Light Setting Sun, Manhattan Solstice
Located in Miami, FL
Mitchell Funk has been chronicling lighting effects in New York for over 50 years. This recent photography captures the magical moment of golden light pouring into 42nd street while...
Photographic Paper, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Old Las Vegas Dunes Hotel Neon
Located in Miami, FL
Mitchell Funk was a trailblazer in shooting neon signs with dramatic angles, acute compostion and powerful color. Although this is a nocturnal image it has vibrant life energy. ...
Inkjet
Bryant Park, New York City
Located in Miami, FL
Negative Color with colored gels creates a wonderfully fantasy of a classic urban park. The work was done in 1971 during the Psychedelic period. Signed , dated lower right, Edition ...
Photographic Paper
Flights, Scotland, 2015
Located in Hudson, NY
CURRENT EXHIBITION - runs through February 26th, 2017. Any framed photographs purchased during the show will be available then. If the exhibition piece is sold or the customer orders...
Archival Pigment
$2,200
H 26 in W 40 in
Nizza - large format photograph of summer beach scene in South of France
By Frank Schott
Located in San Francisco, CA
observation of a Mediterranean beach scene in Nice, France, on a hazy summer day Nizza by Frank Schott 25.5 x 40 inches (65 x 102cm) edition of 25 signed 44 x 69 inches (112 x 17...
Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment, Archival Paper, Giclée, Archival Ink
$700
H 18 in W 24 in D 0.1 in
"Untitled (Nr. 0075)" Nude Photography 18" x 24" Edition of 20 by Ben Cope
By Ben Cope
Located in Culver City, CA
"Untitled (Nr. 0075)" Nude Photography 18" x 24" Edition of 20 by Ben Cope Signed and numbered by the artist. Comes with COA issued by the artist. Unframed - ships rolled in a tube ...
Archival Pigment
$4,000
H 36 in W 24 in D 0.1 in
American Contemporary Photo by M.Y - View of Manhattan From Long Island City
Located in Paris, IDF
Digital Photograph from Film Original ed. 3 of 9 HP Premium Satin Photo Paper with archival inks Born in Japan in 1940 and educated at The Art Center College of Design in California...
Ink, Photographic Paper, Digital
$825
H 36 in W 24 in D 0.1 in
'Youth and the Wise' Contemporary landscape photograph Spring flowers green pink
Located in Penzance, GB
'Youth and the Wise' ('Mono No Aware' Series) 24 x 36" edition Limited edition archival photograph, hand signed and numbered. Unframed _________________ Woven together into richly textured, poetic photographic artworks is the acknowledgement that in all things there is balance: In the sensual interplay of light and shadow; in virial life and peaceful dormancy; in the enduring and the effervescent. Using intricate layering of double exposure photographic techniques, Sophia expresses the moments of chaos and harmony; and of the fleeting magic and serene stillness within...
Photographic Paper, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Giclée, Archi...
$2,200
H 30 in W 40 in
El Mirage - large format photograph of bright California desert landscape
By Frank Schott
Located in San Francisco, CA
large scale art photography of the mesmerizing endless sun drenched white surface of a California desert lake bed with clear blue sky El Mirage by Frank Schott 30 x 40 inches / 7...
Archival Paper, Giclée, Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment
$4,400
H 48 in Dm 64 in
El Mirage - large format photograph of bright California desert landscape
By Frank Schott
Located in San Francisco, CA
El Mirage by Frank Schott 48 x 64 inches / 122cm x 163cm edition of 7 signed 30 x 40 inches / 76cm x 102cm edition of 25 signed archival quality fine art pigment print li...
Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment, Giclée, Archival Paper
$700
H 18 in W 24 in D 0.1 in
"Untitled (Nr. 1035)" Black & White Photography 18 x 24 in Ed. of 20 by Ben Cope
By Ben Cope
Located in Culver City, CA
"Untitled (Nr. 1035)" Black & White Photography 18 x 24 in Ed. of 20 by Ben Cope Signed and numbered by the artist. Comes with COA issued by the artist. Unframed - ships rolled in a...
Archival Pigment
$1,400
H 16 in W 20 in D 1.75 in
Patrick Sansone, Ideal and Bird, 2021, Lambda C Print, Ed 1/10, Photography
Located in Darien, CT
Patrick Sansone uses analog cameras and film to create photographs that reference stillness, lure, and intermission. Decaying signage, abandoned industrial sites, and defunct storefr...
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Lambda
$700
H 18 in W 24 in D 0.1 in
"Untitled (Nr. 7117)" Seascape Photography 18" x 24" Edition of 20 by Ben Cope
By Ben Cope
Located in Culver City, CA
"Untitled (Nr. 7117)" Seascape Photography 18" x 24" Edition of 20 by Ben Cope Signed and numbered by the artist. Comes with COA issued by the artist. Unframed - ships rolled in a t...
Archival Pigment
Manhattan Baseball field with Running Dog - Green Lawn
Located in Miami, FL
A baseball field becomes a color field like painting with wide horizontal bands of day-glo green, earthy ocher and cool grey. Signed and dated on lower...
Archival Pigment, Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Photographic Paper, Inkjet
$1,350
H 36 in W 44 in D 0.1 in
Untitled (Nr. 0289) Landscape Photography 36" x 44" in Edition of 12 by Ben Cope
By Ben Cope
Located in Culver City, CA
Untitled (Nr. 0289) Landscape Photography 36" x 44" in Edition of 12 by Ben Cope Signed and numbered by the artist. Comes with COA issued by the artist. Unframed - ships rolled in a...
Archival Pigment
Sascha The Horse
By Kristina Gale
Located in East Hampton, NY
Sascha the Horse in a farm / field in the Hamptons Part of a series /100 C-Print on Kodak Paper Other barnyard animals : Hamlet the Pig, Stormy the Cow
C Print
Sascha The Horse
By Kristina Gale
Located in East Hampton, NY
Sascha the Horse in a farm / field in the Hamptons Part of a series /100 C-Print on Kodak Paper Other barnyard animals : Hamlet the Pig, Stormy the Cow
C Print
Sold
H 14.5 in W 16.5 in D 0.5 in
"Monterey Bay" - California Coastal Trees, Cyanotype / Watercolor Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Soft watercolor accents add to the beauty of this cyanotype and watercolor titled "Monterey Bay" by Cheryl Trotter (American, 20th century), 1994. Signed and dated lower right "Chery...
Watercolor, Laid Paper, Photographic Paper