Expressionist Art
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.
Artist Comments
A group of trees stands close together, their autumn-tinted canopies blending into one. Their hazy surroundings mirror the softness of the cloud above. In the f...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Oil
Early 2000s Expressionist Art
Oil
1940s Expressionist Art
Paper, Pencil, Carbon Pencil
2010s Expressionist Art
Acrylic
1980s Expressionist Art
Oil
1980s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
1970s Expressionist Art
Screen
Early 2000s Expressionist Art
Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Linen, Oil
Artist Comments
An array of colorful sailboats populate the scene. Their triangular shape serves as a visual motif, repeated and modified throughout to move away from strict re...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
An expressively painted bouquet blooms against a soft, neutral background. Its spontaneous strokes and muted colors exude a lively yet soothing energy. Artist R...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Oil
1980s Expressionist Art
Etching
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art
Lithograph
Artist Comments
Inspired by the vibrant style of Raoul Dufy, this portrayal of UK monastery ruins transitions from realism to bold colors and lively brushwork, merging modern...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
1990s Expressionist Art
Oil
1960s Expressionist Art
Oil, Canvas
Early 2000s Expressionist Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Mixed Media
1910s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
Early 2000s Expressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Bold colors, energetic rendering, and expressive paint application transform ordinary workboats. Adopting a Fauvist approach, the artwork avoids realistic detai...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
Late 20th Century Expressionist Art
Paper, Watercolor
1950s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
Late 20th Century Expressionist Art
Paper, Wax
1920s Expressionist Art
Drypoint
Late 20th Century Expressionist Art
Paper, Watercolor
1910s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
1960s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Four key elements define the composition. The expansive sky, the horizon with hazy tree silhouettes, the colorful orchard, and the chilly pond form a captivatin...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A New England seaport transforms into a stylized seascape through unusual colors, expressive strokes, and minimal details. One sailboat navigates the water whil...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
With sunlight streaming in from the left, the trees engage in a playful banter about who gets the spotlight. Overlooking a small pond alongside the shrubs, they...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
1960s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
Late 20th Century Expressionist Art
Paper, Oil Pastel
1970s Expressionist Art
Cotton Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Watercolor
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art
Lithograph
Artist Comments
In a tranquil garden, wildflowers daydream and create their own sunshine. Blue and gold blooms dominate the cluster, with red ones adding vibrant accents. Infus...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Oil
1910s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
20th Century Expressionist Art
Woodcut
Early 20th Century Expressionist Art
Ink, Watercolor
Artist Comments
Catching the final light of a February day in Massachusetts, the treetops burst into vibrant hues. Drawing inspiration from van Gogh's bold landscapes, the unde...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
Early 2000s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
1960s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
2010s Expressionist Art
Acrylic
1920s Expressionist Art
Woodcut
1930s Expressionist Art
Aquatint
2010s Expressionist Art
Acrylic, Cardboard
Artist Comments
The sky glows orange, its vibrant colors reflected upon the lake. Pine trees grace the horizon with their distinct silhouettes. While the far shore emits a fain...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Drawing inspiration from a charming New England town art gallery, this fauvist reinterpretation simplifies intricate details, allowing the vibrant shapes of exp...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
1980s Expressionist Art
Woodcut
Artist Comments
Fauvist color and energetic paint handling invigorate a Massachusetts harbor. Displaying an expressive and loose painting technique, the underpainting actively ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Inspired by a Scottish folktale during her trip to Scotland, artist Sumner Crenshaw depicts two figures under the moon. In the tale, a selkie transforms into a ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Oil
1950s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
1920s Expressionist Art
Woodcut
1980s Expressionist Art
Oil, Cotton Canvas
Early 20th Century Expressionist Art
Oil
