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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
Amedee de La PATELLIERE, Eclipse with 4 Characters, 1928
Located in Saint Amans des cots, FR
Oil on canvas by Amedee de La PATELLIERE, France, 1928. Eclipse with four characters. With frame: 63x54 cm - 24.8x21.25 inches ; without frame: 41x33 cm - 16.15x13 inches. Format 6F....
Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Beautiful park
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I poured my soul into capturing the serene yet vibrant essence of a park that whispers tales of tranquility and renewal. I employed expressive brushstrokes to...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

Le Bibi en tulle, 1999, original lithograph by Jean Jansem handsigned
Located in Les Acacias GE, GE
Jean Jansem (1920-2013) Le bibi en tulle, 1999 Lithographie sur papier Arches Signée et justifiée 76 x 54 cm Imprimeur: Mourlot, Paris Editeur: Flora Jansem, Paris Bibliographie: J...
Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Acrylic on Paper, 'Hommage to Debussy'.
Located in Cotignac, FR
A large contemporary abstract expressionist acrylic on paper by French artist, Christian Manoury. Signed bottom right. Inspired by the wonderful music of Debussy, a beautifully ligh...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Mère et enfant, original lithograph by Jean Jansem, handsigned and numbered
Located in Les Acacias GE, GE
Jean Jansem (1920-2013) Mère et enfant, 1989 Lithographie sur papierJapon, justifiée et numérotée Signée en bas à droite 67 x 50,5 cm / 76 x 54 cm Bibliographie: CR Jansem, 1993, n°...
Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Dandelions
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this artwork, I've aimed to capture the transient beauty of nature, an expression of life's fleeting moments. Employing gentle strokes and a harmonious palette, I convey the delic...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

Half-length portrait of an elderly bearded man - Melancholy of a prophet -
Located in Berlin, DE
Friedrich August Seitz (1902 Staffort - 1944 Belgrade). Half-length portrait of an elderly man with a beard. Oil on canvas, 42 x 34 cm (visible seize), 58 x 50 cm (frame), signed and...
Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Australian Bullfinch on a branch
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I sought to capture the delicate vibrancy of nature through the lens of expressionism and realism, portraying a small bird with a notably vivid plumage. The sof...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Rêveries, Female nude, Oil, figurative, Contemporary Expressionism, French Art
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Sophie Dumont's oil painting captivates the viewer with a bold representation of a reclining woman, seen from behind. The artist's style, characterized by rounded and sensual figures...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Bird in the forest
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've captured the serene vibrancy of a yellow bird perched delicately amidst a hazy forest. The oil strokes blend realism with impressionism, creating a soft yet pr...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Madonna (Dreaming Woman) - Original Vintage Exhibition Poster (Berggruen)
Located in Paris, IDF
Edvard MUNCH (1863 - 1944) Madonna, 1983 Original vintage poster (high quality four-color process) On thick paper 79 x 50 cm Created for the exhibition "Munch Engravings and Lithogr...
Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Offset

Harbor
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've captured the serene yet profound voyage of a ship sailing into a golden sunset. Using a blend of acrylic and oil, I explore the dynamics between light and shad...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Large 20th Century French Expressionist Signed Oil View over Paris River Seine
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Bridges over the River Seine French Expressionist artist, 20th century indistinctly signed/ titled verso oil on board, framed framed: 22 x 26 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Flowers 10
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I used acrylic and oil to capture a dance of dream-like flowers against an abstract, textured backdrop. Drawing upon expressionism and impressionism, I sought to ev...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard

Storm
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I sought to capture the tumultuous yet mesmerizing dance of the sea with the sky. Utilizing the vigor of expressionism blended with soft touches of impression...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard

Kitties 1
Located in Zofingen, AG
Nude The beauty of a naked body is simply incredible! When I paint a picture with a naked woman, I have the feeling that I am painting space, the universe. I never cease to admire th...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Symbiosis
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vivid fusion of expressionism and pop art, I captured the raw, emotional energy of a musician bonded with her guitar. Layering acrylics and oils, I sought to embody the passi...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Lake view by A. Muller - Oil on canvas 60x73 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on canvas with a frame; total size 80x93 cm
Category

1940s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Evening lights of Prague. The Charles Bridge.
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I've sought to capture the ethereal glow of twilight embracing the iconic architecture. The playful dance of light and shadow melds realism with a hint of impressionis...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

Sail
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I aimed to capture the dynamic interplay of light on water, using a blend of acrylic and oil to create texture and depth. I employed expressionism to convey the emo...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Canvas

Portrait watercolor Andre
Located in Roma, GB
figurative portrait abstract brush stroke unique artwork hand signed one-of-a-kind painted from life
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Tempera, Watercolor

Large Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Apartment Interior and Cityscape. Oil.
Located in Cotignac, FR
A mid century Expressionist oil on canvas of a man, child and cat in an interior with a cityscape beyond. The work is not signed but there are various notations to the top rear stret...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Karl Nordström, Yellow Tulips, Signed and dated.
Located in Stockholm, SE
A beautiful still-life of yellow and red tulips in a vase by Karl Nordström (1855-1923), signed 'KN' and dated a tergo 1917. The vibrant flowers are standing in a vase which is placed on a cloth against a bluish-green background. Karl Fredrik Nordström was born on the Swedish west coast on the large island of Tjörn and was a Swedish painter known mostly for his landscape paintings. He came to Stockholm in 1875 and started to study at the Royal Art Academy, where he was tutored by Edvard Perséus, among others. There, he also became close friends with the artists Richard Bergh and Nils Kreuger...
Category

1910s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Roses and Blues. Oil on panel Still Life with red roses on blue background
Located in Segovia, ES
Roses and Blues (Rosas y azules), oil on panel, Expressionist Still Life. Dimension art: 27 x 22 cm. Dimension framed 51 x 46 x 4.5 cm. Small Expressionist still life...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Art

Materials

Panel, Oil

PAIR OF JANUS SCULPTURES
Located in Paris, FR
Janus. Pair of bronze sculptures. Edition by Artcurial. Numbered 27/250 and 28/250. He was born Henri Étienne-Martin 4 February 1913 in Loriol, Drôme, France. He attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts de Lyon from 1929 to 1933, where he met Marcel Michaud. Martin moved to Paris in 1934, working at the studio of Charles Malfray at the Académie Ranson where he came into contact with such painters as Roger Bissière, Jean Le Moal, Jean Bertholle, Alfred Manessier, Zelman, Véra Pagava...
Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Bronze

Transcendent Figure with Raised Hand - original contemporary figurative painting
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. This original painting is a striking example of contemporary e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Mirando al Cielo 2 by Rosa Basurto - Murmuration Vintage Style Photography
Located in Brighton, GB
Please be aware that all prints are produced to order and lead times are between 5-10 days. Mirando al Cielo 2 is a beautiful 30cm x 30cm Digital Print on 50cm x 50cm Cotton Paper....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Cotton, Photographic Paper, Digital

Blue pond
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this artwork, I sought to capture the serene beauty of nature using the delicate dance of light and shadow upon water. This expressionistic approach emphasizes the tranqu...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Marina Diptych, Abstract Seascape Gestures in Blue, Acrylic Painting on Paper
Located in Barcelona, ES
This series by Enric Servera explores the relationship of humans to salt and seawater. The intention of these works is to submerge us into the sea, a salty treasure that surrounds us...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Forest Spring Flowers Bouquet
Located in Zofingen, AG
This piece captures the raw, tumultuous energy of a wave at its peak, a moment both mightily powerful and intensely serene. Using expressionistic strokes and a bold realism-infused p...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Lake and mountain landscape
Located in Genève, GE
Work on canvas
Category

19th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

A GRAIN OF CONSCIENCE
Located in CÓRDOBA, ES
Original painting by Daria Kusto. 2024y. Acrylic on canvas. The magic flow reality... It is sent rolled in a tube, safe and express shipping to the whole world.
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic, Permanent Marker, Canvas

Camellias Grow Near Water. Contemporary Expressionist Oil Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
Gently glowing with opalescent light Camellias Grow Near Water is a remarkable painting from Slade School alumni and leading British Impressionist artist Francesca Owen. Drawing insp...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Winter landscape
Located in Riga, LV
Adolfs Melnars (till 1940 – Adolfs Maslovskis) (1908.4.III – 1963.31.X) attended studio of K. Miesnieks (1928), studied in Latvia Art academy (1930 – 39) and graduated studio of G. ...
Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Just sea
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've poured my soul into capturing the ever-changing essence of the sea. I utilized a blend of impressionism and expressionism to evoke the sea's dynamic moods ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Contemporary abstract impressionist painting of landscape "Vibrant nature"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract piece, done with a mix of expressionism and impressionism, is titled "Vibrant Nature" and was created by French artist Nataya Mougenot. It is part of her s...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Acrylic

MUSIC ROOM with HARP - original oil large painting 100x70cm /40x27.5in FRAMED
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Music Room with Harp" Oil on canvas Large original, one-of-a-kind, painting 100x70cm / 40x27.5in Shipped stretched and framed. Part of Interior series. Artist Statement "I started ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Ernst Bruzek - "Demeter" - giclée print - hand signed
Located in Winterswijk, NL
Ernst Bruzek - "Demeter". Giclée print handmade paper. Hand signed A beautiful artwork that looks good in every room and especially in the living room ...
Category

20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Giclée, Handmade Paper

American Poplar
Located in Stockholm, SE
A vibrant painting depicting an avenue lined with poplar trees in fall colors, prominently featuring a very large, centrally placed yellow poplar. Possibly an American poplar. The artist, Agda Holst, has employed a diverse palette of colors to the poplars, creating a dynamic and colorful composition. This oil on panel is signed and dated by Holst in 1948. The work exemplifies her use of color and form, characteristics that defined her artistic practice throughout her career. Agda Holst was a Swedish modernist painter known for her precise study of form, stylized compositions, and ability to merge structured geometry with expressive color. Her works, often still lifes, portraits, and figure studies, reflect a balance between naturalistic representation and modernist influences such as Cubism and New Objectivity. Holst's artistic journey began in 1907 at the Académie Colarossi in Paris, where she studied under Christian Krohg. Seeking further refinement, she moved to Munich between 1910 and 1911, studying with Julius Exter, known for his teachings in portrait and genre painting. In 1911–1912, she returned to Paris to study under Kees van Dongen, whose bold use of color and strong contrasts left a lasting impression on her work. The early 1920s marked another period of study in Paris, this time under André Lhote, who instilled in her a structured approach to composition and geometric clarity. Holst’s first public exhibition took place in 1916, when she displayed paintings in a bookstore...
Category

1940s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Panel

French Fauvist Gouache of Sailing Boats in Port Under a Setting Sun.
Located in Cotignac, FR
Watercolour and gouache on paper of sailing boats at a quay side. The painting is signed bottom right but as yet undeciphered and dated 1945. Presented in a patinated wood custom fra...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Gouache

Chinatown, San Francisco
By Edward Wilson Currier
Located in London, GB
'Chinatown, San Francisco', gouache on fine art paper, by Edward Wilson Currier (1903). Spofford Alley in San Francisco's Chinatown is best known for an address (number 36) where Dr. Sun Yat-Sen plotted the overthrow of China's last dynasty. During Prohibition, it was the site of turf battles over local bootlegging and protection rackets. Today it is lined with seniors' community centres. However, the quiet alley livens up in the evenings when a Chinese orchestra strikes up a tune, mah-jongg games begin with a cascade of clicking tiles, and barbers and florists use the pretence of sweeping their doorsteps to gossip. In this artist's depiction, a man smokes a long-stemmed Chinese pipe under the awning and colourful lanterns hanging from the wooden supports while a child looks on. The artwork is interesting from several standpoints including architectural, cultural and historical. Shortly after this work was painted, the neighbourhood was completely destroyed in the 1906 earthquake that levelled most of the city. From 1910 to 1940, Chinese immigrants were detained at the Angel Island...
Category

Early 1900s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Sailors in the Port of Nice
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

Morning garden with rhododendrons
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've merged the vivid, emotive strokes of expressionism with the subtle, light play of impressionism, all grounded in realism's tangible forms. Using oil paints, I ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Marc Chagall Stillleben in Blau ( Natur morte bleue ), from Derrière le Miroir
Located in Berlin, DE
Original color Lithograph, 1957. Still life with fruit bowls, carafe, woman and goat. Printed by Solier. As published in the journal Derrière le Miroir,...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

"Burst of spring colors " (Contemporary semi-abstract expressive floral art)
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This artwork belongs to my “Floral” series which is full of expressive brush strokes where I could experience a floral theme. It is a bold and eclectic mix of art which radiates str...
Category

20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Tulips 5
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vivid expanse of warmth and vitality, I’ve unleashed my passion through oil pastel and colored pencil, embracing expressionism, impressionism, and pop art to provoke emotion....
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Satin Paper

Reading - original figurative abstract female form painting - contemporary art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. "Reading a Book" by Irina Yermolova captures the essence of po...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Gladiator - Large format expressionist, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
The Gladiator is a large-format expressionist painting of a gladiator in vibrant ocher yellow. Gladiator was and still is one of my all-time best favourite movies. Even up to this t...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Solange de dos, 1990, original lithograph by Jean Jansem, handsigned, numbered
Located in Les Acacias GE, GE
Jean Jansem (1920-2013) Solange de dos, 1990 Lithographie sur papier Japon Signée en bas à droite et justifiée en bas à gauche 45,5 x 65 cm / 54 x 76 cm Bibliographie: Imprimeur:...
Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Summer, Original Watercolor, figurative painting, vertical
Located in Oslo, NO
The painting portrays a serene scene of a young girl on a radiant sunny day, lovingly watering a garden full of vibrant flowers. The interplay of light and shadow creates a striking ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Landscape 132 by Jean Krille - Oil on Masonite 40.5x61 cm
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

Masonite, Oil

Contemporary oil portrait of a woman on canvas ""Woman with a red flower"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
In this captivating artwork "Woman with a red flower" , the artist employs a minimalist yet expressive approach to depict a woman whose presence resonates deeply, even in the absence...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Village. Oil on cardboard, 79. 5 x 100. 5 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Village. Oil on cardboard, 79.5 x 100.5 cm Aleksandr Rodin (1922-2001) Painter Born in a family of farmers. Wife Rasma Lace - art scholar. Studied at the Stalingrad School of Art, S...
Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Taormina
Located in Wien, 9
Deling with the work of Erich Waske today, one encounters first of all a number of reasons why this outstanding artist has fallen into such undeserved oblivion. In addition to the de...
Category

20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Italian village
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this artwork, I've poured my soul into capturing the essence of a rustic Italian landscape, where the vibrant poppy fields dance under the sun's warm embrace. The path meanders, i...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

Early spring
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting is inspired by early spring, early April. When it is still cool, but the grass is already green and the trees are slowly overgrown with buds and the first green leaves,...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Carlotta Auba by Simon Tozer, Limited edition print, Sailing, Coastal
Located in Deddington, GB
Carlotta Auba by Simon Tozer [2022] limited_edition and hand signed by the artist Screenprint on Paper Edition number of 18 Image size: H:23.5 cm x W:3...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Screen

Mountain herbs 60X60
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I've captured the raw majesty of nature, juxtaposing the enduring calm of the snow-capped peak with the vibrant wild flora in the foreground. Every stroke is charged w...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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.

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