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Expressionist Art

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
Item Ships From: Europe
Aurora over a Northern Lake, 1916
Aurora over a Northern Lake, 1916

Aurora over a Northern Lake, 1916

Located in Stockholm, Stockholm

Aurora over a Northern Lake, signed and dated “G Claeson 1916”, oil on canvas. This evocative landscape, executed in an expressionist manner, and on the same time almost modern, cap...

Category

1910s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Shadow marshes. Richard K Blades. Painting of sea at sunset. Turner influence.
Shadow marshes. Richard K Blades. Painting of sea at sunset. Turner influence.

Shadow marshes. Richard K Blades. Painting of sea at sunset. Turner influence.

By Richard K Blades

Located in Coltishall, GB

A warm sunset over Norfolk's Cromer beach. Between Thoughts is a sublime oil painting that captures the mesmerizing tranquility of a sunset over thw North Sea. The horizon is ablaze...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Sailors in Nice: Mixed Media Gouache and Pastel on Paper, 1950s
Sailors in Nice: Mixed Media Gouache and Pastel on Paper, 1950s

Sailors in Nice: Mixed Media Gouache and Pastel on Paper, 1950s

By Alfred Salvignol

Located in London, GB

'Sailors in the Port of Nice', mixed media - gouache, pastel and oil on paper, by Alfred Salvignol (circa 1950s). The Port of Nice is one of the key hubs of Nice and, in fact, of the entire French Riviera, standing out as one of the main harbours for the boats which sail across the Mediterranean Sea. It accommodates both the ships operated by ferry companies and the private yachts of visitors who come to Nice by sea. The artist here depicts a group of crusty sailors watching...

Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Pastel, Oil, Gouache

Poppies and Wildflowers, Figurative Triptych, Large Botanical Landscape on Paper
Poppies and Wildflowers, Figurative Triptych, Large Botanical Landscape on Paper

Poppies and Wildflowers, Figurative Triptych, Large Botanical Landscape on Paper

By Romina Milano

Located in Barcelona, ES

This original painting by Romina Milano presents a lyrical field of poppies and wildflowers, where gestural brushwork and simplified forms create a vivid, contemporary botanical comp...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic, Watercolor, Handmade Paper

Between Thoughts. Richard K Blades. Painting of sea at sunset. Turner influence.
Between Thoughts. Richard K Blades. Painting of sea at sunset. Turner influence.

Between Thoughts. Richard K Blades. Painting of sea at sunset. Turner influence.

By Richard K Blades

Located in Coltishall, GB

A warm sunset over Norfolk's Cromer beach. Between Thoughts is a sublime oil painting that captures the mesmerizing tranquility of a sunset over thw North Sea. The horizon is ablaze...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Mid Century Expressionist Landscape, Oil on Canvas. The Countryside
Mid Century Expressionist Landscape, Oil on Canvas. The Countryside

Mid Century Expressionist Landscape, Oil on Canvas. The Countryside

Located in Cotignac, FR

Mid Century oil on canvas landscape painting by Franco Hungarian artist Elemer Vagh Weinmann. The painting is signed bottom right and is presented in a custom gilt frame with a white...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Oil Painting of Seated Nude Woman
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Oil Painting of Seated Nude Woman

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Oil Painting of Seated Nude Woman

By Henry Meylan

Located in Genève, GE

Work on canvas signed dimensions with frame : 101 x 86.5 x 3 cm This painting presents a seated nude woman, expressing a captivating presence. The rich, varied tones of the palette, ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Spring came!
Spring came!

Spring came!

By Elena Lukina

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this oil painting, I embraced the raw vitality of expressionism to capture the essence of renewal. The figurative approach intertwines with the soft vintage touch, conveying a fin...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Linen

Fruit Market in Haiti, Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Framed, Circa 1990
Fruit Market in Haiti, Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Framed, Circa 1990

Fruit Market in Haiti, Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Framed, Circa 1990

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Title: Fruit Market in Haiti Artist: JM Gary Delly Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions (unframed): 9.8 x 7.9 in Dimensions (framed): 15 x 13 in Period: Approx. 1990-1999 Origin: Haiti Condition: Good, with frame included Description of the Artwork This painting captures a lively Haitian market scene, embodying the essence of Haitian primitivist art with its vibrant colors and thick impasto brushstrokes. The scene depicts a bustling marketplace where vendors and buyers interact, surrounded by piles of tropical fruits arranged in baskets. The figures are dressed in bright, contrasting tones, enhancing the painting’s dynamic and energetic atmosphere. The artist’s expressive, thick strokes and saturated colors create a sense of movement and liveliness. The composition is carefully balanced, with figures arranged in different planes, providing depth and perspective in an intuitive manner. The lush vegetation in the background and the bright blue sky add further context to the scene, situating it in the Caribbean setting. Haitian art, influenced by its African and Caribbean heritage, is known for its naïve style and depictions of everyday life. JM Gary Delly follows this tradition, celebrating the vibrancy of Haitian culture in his work. Comparable Artists This artwork shares stylistic similarities with renowned Haitian artists, including: Wilson Bigaud (1931-2010): A master of Haitian art, famous for his detailed depictions of everyday life and folklore. André Normil (1934-2015): Known for his naïve style and colorful representations of Haitian life. Laurent Casimir...

Category

1990s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

JOY. Cats original painting
JOY. Cats original painting

JOY. Cats original painting

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this vibrant artwork, I channel the whimsy of expressionism with touches of impressionism and pop art to create a playful scene that bursts with joy and curiosity. Using acrylics ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Cardboard

Landscape 139 by Jean Krille - Oil on Canvas board 50x60 cm
Landscape 139 by Jean Krille - Oil on Canvas board 50x60 cm

Landscape 139 by Jean Krille - Oil on Canvas board 50x60 cm

By Jean Krille

Located in Geneva, CH

Jean Krillé’s paintings are known for their expressive use of color and dynamic, abstract forms, blending realism with abstraction in his depictions of nature. His landscapes often f...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

North West. Richard K Blades. Oil painting of the sea and sky Turner influence.
North West. Richard K Blades. Oil painting of the sea and sky Turner influence.

North West. Richard K Blades. Oil painting of the sea and sky Turner influence.

By Richard K Blades

Located in Coltishall, GB

North West - a tumultuous seascape beneath a dramatic sky. Blades' textured brushstrokes that merge shades of deep indigo and soft pink, suggest an impending storm. The transition fr...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Magicien, 1978 Lithograph on Arches Paper, Signed, 68.5 x 51.5 cm
Magicien, 1978 Lithograph on Arches Paper, Signed, 68.5 x 51.5 cm

Magicien, 1978 Lithograph on Arches Paper, Signed, 68.5 x 51.5 cm

By Jean Jansem

Located in Les Acacias GE, GE

Jean Jansem (1920-2013) – Magicien, 1978 Lithographie sur papier Arches, Signée en bas à droite, justifiée 68,5 x 51,5 cm / 76 x 54 cm Bibliographie: CR Jansem, 1984, n°405 "M...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Ballerine sur fond vert, 1995, original lithograph by Jean Jansem, handsigned
Ballerine sur fond vert, 1995, original lithograph by Jean Jansem, handsigned

Ballerine sur fond vert, 1995, original lithograph by Jean Jansem, handsigned

By Jean Jansem

Located in Les Acacias GE, GE

Jean Jansem (1920-2013) Ballerine sur fond vert, 1995 Lithographie sur papier Arches, justifiée et numérotée 48/100 Signée en bas à droite 22 x 17 cm / 32 x 26 cm Bibliographie: ...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Mediterranean Village of Mallorca oil on canvas painting
Mediterranean Village of Mallorca oil on canvas painting

Mediterranean Village of Mallorca oil on canvas painting

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Artist: Bernat Sanjuan i Tarré (Barcelona, 1915 – Deià, Mallorca, 1979) Title: Mediterranean Village of Mallorca Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 65 × 92 cm (25.6 × 36.2 in) Framed:...

Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Original mid 20th Century French drawing by Expressionist Morot-Sir 'Graphica'
Original mid 20th Century French drawing by Expressionist Morot-Sir 'Graphica'

Original mid 20th Century French drawing by Expressionist Morot-Sir 'Graphica'

By Gerard Morot-Sir

Located in Petworth, West Sussex

Gerard Morot-Sir (French, 1931 – 2003) Graphica Ink on paper Signed and dated ‘ Morot-Sir, 59’ (lower left) 12.1/2 x 9.5/8in. (31.7 x 24.5cm.) Newly framed in a limed wood frame in a...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Ink

Market Day in Piazza Grande, Expressionist Oil on Board, 1940s, Framed
Market Day in Piazza Grande, Expressionist Oil on Board, 1940s, Framed

Market Day in Piazza Grande, Expressionist Oil on Board, 1940s, Framed

Located in London, GB

'Market Day in Piazza Grande, Locarno, Switzerland', oil on board, by unknown artist (1947-48). Locarno is an utterly charming Italian-speaking resort located on the northern shore o...

Category

1940s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Eventide by Richard K Blades.  Oil painting of the sea at sunset after a storm.
Eventide by Richard K Blades.  Oil painting of the sea at sunset after a storm.

Eventide by Richard K Blades. Oil painting of the sea at sunset after a storm.

By Richard K Blades

Located in Coltishall, GB

Richard K Blades is an expressive landscape painter working in the English Romantic tradition.  He follows in a long line of artists such as Turner, Constable, Seago, Daubigney and C...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

La petite danseuse, 1990, original lithograph by Jean Jansem handsigned numbered
La petite danseuse, 1990, original lithograph by Jean Jansem handsigned numbered

La petite danseuse, 1990, original lithograph by Jean Jansem handsigned numbered

By Jean Jansem

Located in Les Acacias GE, GE

Jean Jansem (1920-2013) La petite danseuse, 1990 Lithographie sur papier Arches Justifiée Signée au crayon 50 x 65 cm / 53.5 x 75.5 cm Imprimeur: Mourlot, Paris Editeur: Jansem, Par...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Lake Landscape Gouache Painting, Expressionist Style, 1970s, Unframed
Lake Landscape Gouache Painting, Expressionist Style, 1970s, Unframed

Lake Landscape Gouache Painting, Expressionist Style, 1970s, Unframed

Located in Genève, GE

Work on paper This painting depicts a dynamic harbor under a stormy sky. The artist uses energetic brushstrokes and a palette dominated by deep blues and ochres, giving the scene a d...

Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Gouache

Fantasy with Flowers 54
Fantasy with Flowers 54

Fantasy with Flowers 54

Located in Zofingen, AG

"Fantasy with Flowers" (series of 200+ pictures)   paper 59x42cm  On the paper acrylic, oil pastel, felt-tip pen, ink, gold leaf, pencils, silver,mixed media. Flowers are a smile of ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper

Amroth seascape at night
Amroth seascape at night

Amroth seascape at night

By Rupert Aker

Located in Deddington, GB

Amroth seascape at night by Rupert Aker [2021] original Oil on board Image size: H:30 cm x W:40 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:40 cm x W:40 cm x D:3cm Frame Size: H:33 cm x W:...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Expressive Castilian Landscape Oil Painting with Olive Trees and Impasto Spain
Expressive Castilian Landscape Oil Painting with Olive Trees and Impasto Spain

Expressive Castilian Landscape Oil Painting with Olive Trees and Impasto Spain

By Ulpiano Carrasco

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Expressive Castilian Landscape Oil Painting with Olive Trees and Impasto Artist: Ulpiano Carrasco Title: Verano en Castillejo Year: 1998 Technique: Oil on canvas Artwork dimensions: 54 × 65 cm / 21.26 × 25.59 in Framed dimensions: 78 × 89 cm / 30.71 × 35.04 in Signature: Signed and dated on the reverse Inscription: Titled “Verano en Castillejo” on the reverse Framing: Framed Condition: Good overall condition, with rich original impasto and visible pictorial texture Description A vibrant expressive landscape by Spanish artist Ulpiano Carrasco, titled Verano en Castillejo and dated 1998 on the reverse. This oil on canvas represents a powerful Castilian landscape, built through dense impasto, energetic brushwork and a luminous palette of greens, yellows, blues, whites and earthy reds. The composition captures an open rural panorama with olive trees, rolling cultivated fields and distant hills, transforming the Spanish countryside into an intense chromatic experience. Carrasco does not approach landscape as simple topography. His painting turns nature into matter, rhythm and emotion. The fields appear almost sculpted with paint, while the olive trees emerge as dark, expressive forms against the vibrating surface of the land. The result is a landscape full of movement, heat and Mediterranean-Castilian atmosphere. The work is especially attractive for collectors of Spanish contemporary landscape painting, expressive impasto painting, Mediterranean landscapes, olive tree paintings...

Category

1990s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Joelle de dos au coussin vert 1995 original lithograph by Jean Jansem handsigned
Joelle de dos au coussin vert 1995 original lithograph by Jean Jansem handsigned

Joelle de dos au coussin vert 1995 original lithograph by Jean Jansem handsigned

By Jean Jansem

Located in Les Acacias GE, GE

Jean Jansem (1920-2013) Joelle de dos au coussin vert, 1995 Lithographie sur papier Arches Signée et justifiée 56 x 76 cm Album: La danse, 1999 Imprimeur: Arts-Litho, Paris Editeur ...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Old and Young Woman - Lithograph Poster - Los Angeles County Museum #Mourlot
Old and Young Woman - Lithograph Poster - Los Angeles County Museum #Mourlot

Old and Young Woman - Lithograph Poster - Los Angeles County Museum #Mourlot

By Edvard Munch

Located in Paris, IDF

Edvard Munch (1863 - 1944) (after) Young and Old Woman Poster printed in offset lithograph (from Munch's original woodcut "Women on the Shore" of 1898) Printed in Mourlot workshop, Paris 76 x 53 cm (30 x 21") INFORMATION : Realised for the exhibition in the Los Angeles County Museum...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Offset

The Secret in Her Eyes, Romantic Realism Oil on Canvas Painting, 1980s
The Secret in Her Eyes, Romantic Realism Oil on Canvas Painting, 1980s

The Secret in Her Eyes, Romantic Realism Oil on Canvas Painting, 1980s

By Rosendo Gonzalez Carbonell

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Technical Sheet - Title: *The Secret in Her Eyes* - Artist: Rosendo González Carbonell - Technique: Oil on canvas - Dimensions: 24 x 20 inches - Framing: Unframed - Style: Romantic realism...

Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

¨Topiaria¨. Expressionist colorful garden. Big format Oil on canvas
¨Topiaria¨. Expressionist colorful garden. Big format Oil on canvas

¨Topiaria¨. Expressionist colorful garden. Big format Oil on canvas

By Chico Montilla

Located in Segovia, ES

Topiaria. Big format Oil on canvas Beautiful garden by Chico Montilla. Measurements: (H) 130 x (W) 195 x 3 cm. Framed 142 x 207 x 5 cm. Colorful expressionist view of a garden with plants that have been given artistic form through the topiary art...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Full Calm
Full Calm

Full Calm

Located in Zofingen, AG

In crafting this piece, I explored the tranquil interplay of light and texture over the serene expanse of water, reflecting a quiet sunset. The gentle blending of acrylic and oil in ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard

Expressionist art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Expressionist art 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 art 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, green and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Iryna Kastsova, George Grosz, Stephen Basso, and Marc Chagall. 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 Expressionist art, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available.