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Expressionist Figurative Prints

EXPRESSIONIST STYLE

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.

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Style: Expressionist
Panning For Gold
Located in Toronto, ON
29.5" x 12" Unframed Limited Edition Giclee with Hand Embellishment of 135 Hand Signed by Todd White Todd white captures restaurant, night and Hollywood scenes with contrasting col...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Giclée

Spirit State
Located in Toronto, ON
32" x 16" Unframed Limited Edition Giclée with Hand Embellishment of 50 Hand Signed by Todd White “This is an unusual piece for me. There is definitely a divide but it seems to fal...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Giclée

White Tie Affair
Located in Toronto, ON
20" x 16" Unframed Limited Edition Giclee on Canvas with Hand Embellishment of 100 Hand Signed by Todd White Todd white captures restaurant, night and Hollywood scenes with contrast...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Giclée

NIÑO CON PAJARO
Located in Aventura, FL
Niño con pájaros from Rufino Tamayo 16 aguafuertes 1976. Color etching on Guarro paper. Hand signed and numbered in crayon by the artist. HC edition. Published by Ediciones Poligra...
Category

1970s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching, Paper

NIÑO CON PAJARO
NIÑO CON PAJARO
$6,375 Sale Price
25% Off
Hyposomnia, solitary mysterious figure, earth tones, night
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oil based ink and paint monotype on fine printmaking paper. Expressionist female figure in abstracted landscape, active ink and paint manipulation.
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Monotype

Untitled
Located in Barcelona, BARCELONA
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Category

1990s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Lithograph

The Old Collier - Hand Signed Drypoint - German Expressionism
Located in London, GB
CONRAD FELIXMÜLLER 1897 - 1977 Dresden 1897 - 1977 Berlin (German) Title: The Old Collier Der alte Kohlenarbeiter, 1921 Technique: Original Hand Signed Drypoint on Wove Paper Pa...
Category

1920s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Drypoint

On the Quay Wall Auf der Quaimauer, 1921
Located in London, GB
LYONEL FEININGER 1871-1956 1871 - New York - 1956 (American/German) Title: On the Quay Wall Auf der Quaimauer, 1921 Technique: Original Hand Signed Woodcut on Wove Paper Paper...
Category

1920s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

063062
Located in New Orleans, LA
Otto Neumann (1895-1975) was an expressionist painter and printmaker born in Heidelberg, Germany. He was one of the most versatile and original artists of the twentieth century. Neum...
Category

1960s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Monotype

Flying Over the Poppies
Located in Toronto, ON
40.75" x 11.25" Unframed Limited Edition Giclée on Canvas with Hand Embellishment Numbered of 80 Hand Signed by Todd White Todd white captures restaurant, night and Hollywood scenes with contrasting colors serving the viewer’s eyes as those in his stolen scenes serve or are served-wine, coffee, cigarettes, cigars, and martinis. He creates timeless scenes of diverse attraction, of known intimacy. Within the exaggerated features and textured skin of his characters lies truth, yours and theirs. Distinctive bodies and details to lips, eyes, hair, skin, hands and what is held in each, separate and blend his characters’ lives. The smoke that rises from their lips, the drinks that linger at their fingertips, the clothing that adorns their bodies and the crowd created among lovers, friends, patrons and co-workers all speak a certain poetry. Each character depicts the subtleties of what one shows and what one hides. An asymmetrical face tells of an asymmetrical life, of how life wears and how we wear life — what we choose to carry in our hands and on our faces — how we wear ourselves, what smoke and color we stand in. Todd’s paintings are captivating, demanding a second look, often invoking humor or thoughts of familiar feelings — I’ve been there, I know them. Above all, the work is infectious and has caught the attention of the public (galleries cannot keep enough of Todd’s work in stock) as well as celebrities (Vin Diesel, Hugh Hefner, Macaulay Culkin, Eric McCormack, Ryan Stiles and Joe Rogan are collectors of Todd’s oil paintings). But who is the artist behind the art and where did his unique style come from? Todd began in at Warner Bros. Studios while working on the popular series, tiny toons. Through character clean-up and development, Todd began to forge his own artistic style. Shortly thereafter, Todd became part of the lead animation team for the internationally renowned cartoon, sponge bob square pants. Over the next three years, Todd sharpened his eye in storyboarding, illustration and character design. Throughout this period, Todd privately experimented with style and concept, eventually arriving at a process which guides him through every piece. The impact is apparent in his paintings; Todd’s rat-pack-meets-Picasso style results, in part, from his desire to reveal his characters’ innermost thoughts and emotions on their faces. Todd likens his portraits to his favorite episode of the Twilight Zone in which people wore masks that later became their faces and revealed who they truly were. Fast forward ten years later, and until Todd can conceptually see the story in his head, he refuses to paint a single signature knuckle curled around one of his famous martinis. "I actually name my pieces first and then i visualise each face and its personality. Then I develop each person’s story." The stark, unblemished delivery of his subjects is very much intended: whatever isn’t necessary to the story isn’t on my canvas. "I don’t waste a lot of time with backgrounds because they don’t interest me. They aren’t necessary. Instead i focus on what is essential. For example, the hands." Hands are a focal point for Todd, reflecting the subject’s state of mind as much as any body language or facial expression. Everyone’s hands are full of personality he surmises. Take Al Pacino; without his hands, he’s not nearly as interesting to watch. In addition to more obvious influences, such as Austrian expressionist Egon...
Category

2010s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Giclée

Le Travesti (The Transvestite)
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork, titled "Le Travesti" (The Transvestite) from the suite "Mon Cirque" 1968, is an original color lithograph on Arches paper by renown French artist Bernard Buffet, 1928-...
Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Lithograph

"Master Arthur" from the suite "Cirque de l'Etoile Filante" Original aquatint.
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Master Arthur" from the suite "Cirque de l'Etoile Filante" created in 1934, printed in 1938 is an original color aquatint, etching and drypoint by renown French ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Aquatint

Rabbis Studying the Thorah
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Jakob Steinhardt (German/Israeli, 1887-1968) Title: Rabbis Studying the Thorah Year: Circa 1960 Medium: Color woodcut Paper: Wove Image size...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Rabbi's Communion With God
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Jakob Steinhardt (German/Israeli, 1887-1968) Title: Rabbi's Communion With God Year: Circa 1960 Medium: Color woodcut Paper: Wove Image size: 9.5 x 14 inches Framed size:...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

La Princesse et le Bouffon
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Theo Tobiasse (French/Israeli, 1927-2012) Title: La Princesse et le Bouffon Year: 1978 Medium: Color lithograph Edition: Numbered 60/175 in pencil Paper: Wove Image siz...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Lithograph

A Tough Citizen
Located in New York, NY
As art historian and writer Suzanne Ramljak wrote "the ambivalent relationship between humanity and machinery has informed Aptekar's art from the start and remains a central theme in...
Category

1980s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Screen

Man Into Machine
Located in New York, NY
As art historian and writer Suzanne Ramljak wrote "the ambivalent relationship between humanity and machinery has informed Aptekar's art from the start and remains a central theme in...
Category

1980s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Screen

A Piece of Technology
Located in New York, NY
As art historian and writer Suzanne Ramljak wrote "the ambivalent relationship between humanity and machinery has informed Aptekar's art from the start and remains a central theme in...
Category

1980s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Screen

The Coffee Break
Located in New York, NY
As art historian and writer Suzanne Ramljak wrote "the ambivalent relationship between humanity and machinery has informed Aptekar's art from the start and remains a central theme in his work. Like many of the issues Aptekar addresses, technology is not without contradiction." The use of clear contours and colors, is certainly not oblivious of Fernand Leger latest work and what he called "the law of contrast". At the same time, the political and social commentary that are a constant inherent component of Aptekar's work has it's roots in the work of Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, who Apterkar met at age of 11. The outcome is an imagery of an extraordinary visual impact and absolutely unique to Aptekar's own creative process. This work "Coffee Break...
Category

1980s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Screen

They Won't Be Stopped
Located in New York, NY
As art historian and writer Suzanne Ramljak wrote "the ambivalent relationship between humanity and machinery has informed Aptekar's art from the start and remains a central theme in...
Category

1980s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Screen

The Rats
Located in New York, NY
As art historian and writer Suzanne Ramljak wrote "the ambivalent relationship between humanity and machinery has informed Aptekar's art from the start and remains a central theme in...
Category

1980s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Screen

The Hot Dog Man
Located in New York, NY
As art historian and writer Suzanne Ramljak wrote "the ambivalent relationship between humanity and machinery has informed Aptekar's art from the start and remains a central theme in his work. Like many of the issues Aptekar addresses, technology is not without contradiction." The shocking imagery of juxtaposed human and natural forms with mechanical elements, using clear contours and colors, is certainly not oblivious of Fernand Leger latest work and what he called "the law of contrast". At the same time, the political and social commentary that are a constant inherent component of Aptekar's work has it's roots in the work of Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, who Apterkar met at age of 11. The outcome is an imagery of an extraordinary visual impact and absolutely unique to Aptekar's own creative process. This work "The Hot Dog...
Category

1980s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Screen

The Football Players
Located in New York, NY
As art historian and writer Suzanne Ramljak wrote "the ambivalent relationship between humanity and machinery has informed Aptekar's art from the start and remains a central theme in his work. Like many of the issues Aptekar addresses, technology is not without contradiction." The shocking imagery of juxtaposed human and natural forms with mechanical elements, using clear contours and colors, is certainly not oblivious of Fernand Leger latest work and what he called "the law of contrast". At the same time, the political and social commentary that are a constant inherent component of Aptekar's work has it's roots in the work of Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, who Apterkar met at age of 11. The outcome is an imagery of an extraordinary visual impact and absolutely unique to Aptekar's own creative process. This work "The Football Players...
Category

1980s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Screen

Hand Into Meat
Located in New York, NY
As art historian and writer Suzanne Ramljak wrote "the ambivalent relationship between humanity and machinery has informed Aptekar's art from the start and remains a central theme in...
Category

1980s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Screen

Moving Woman
Located in New York, NY
As art historian and writer Suzanne Ramljak wrote "the ambivalent relationship between humanity and machinery has informed Aptekar's art from the start and remains a central theme in his work. Like many of the issues Aptekar addresses, technology is not without contradiction." The shocking imagery of juxtaposed human and natural forms with mechanical elements, using clear contours and colors, is certainly not oblivious of Fernand Leger latest work and what he called "the law of contrast". At the same time, the political and social commentary that are a constant inherent component of Aptekar's work has it's roots in the work of Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, who Apterkar met at age of 11. The outcome is an imagery of an extraordinary visual impact and absolutely unique to Aptekar's own creative process. This work "Moving Woman" has been conceived while Aptekar was working on a monumental piece of 23 x 45 x 17 feet titled "The Defeat of the City of Plutonium: A Holocaust Prevented". The strong image of a human female naked body depicted as being one of the building parts...
Category

1980s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Screen

Expressionist figurative prints for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Expressionist figurative prints 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 figurative prints created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of orange, blue, purple, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including George Grosz, Marc Chagall, Todd White, and Gustav Klimt & K.K. Hof-und Staatsdruckerei. Frequently made by artists working with Lithograph, and Paper and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Expressionist figurative prints, so small editions measuring 3 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative prints made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $88 and tops out at $975,000, while the average work sells for $1,100.

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