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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
True Friend 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women Love Men
True Friend 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women Love Men

True Friend 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women Love Men

By Daniel Owoeye

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Dan...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Paris : Louvre Museum with Blue Scratch - Original etching
Paris : Louvre Museum with Blue Scratch - Original etching

Paris : Louvre Museum with Blue Scratch - Original etching

By Arnulf Rainer

Located in Paris, IDF

Arnulf Rainer (1929) Paris : Louvre Museum with Blue Scratch Original etching On vellum 40 x 50 cm (c. 16 x 20 in) Authenticated with the blind stamp of the editor Chalcographie of ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

Gazing Through Ankara 1, Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Unframed
Gazing Through Ankara 1, Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Unframed

Gazing Through Ankara 1, Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Unframed

By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

"Gazing Through Ankara" is a captivating series of paintings that celebrates the beauty, diversity, and individuality of black African women through the exploration of eyewear and An...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Fabric, Oil

Untitled (Personages Drinking)
Untitled (Personages Drinking)

Untitled (Personages Drinking)

By Michael Todd White

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork "Untitled (Personages Drinking)" c.2005, is an original serio lithograph (serigraph and lithograph) on paper by renown American figurative expressionist artist Michael Todd White, b.1969. It is signed and numbered 24/350. The artwork (Image) Size is 9.25 x 21 inches, framed size is 19 x 30 inches. Custom framed in a wood veneer and black frame, with fabric matting. It is in excellent condition. About the artist: Michael Todd White (born October 10, 1969, in San Antonio, Texas) is a figurative expressionist painter.[1] He has also been described as an avant-garde expressionist. White was named the official artist for the Grammy Awards by the Recording Academy in 2007. His painting appeared on the ceremony's invitation and program book and served as the official image for the event. His work was featured in the Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Collection, an exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. The collection toured designated cities all over the world including Miami, Los Angeles, Dubai, Japan, London, Toronto and Vienna. In 2010, White was chosen to provide sketches for Coca-Cola Light in Mexico. White's six sketches are depicted on different faces of Coca-Cola Light bottles and cans, each featuring his distinctive box signature. This was the first time that Coke had collaborated with a fine artist to depict artwork for its label. The bottles were released in August 2010.[5] As a result of some of these career achievements White has earned international recognition and a lengthy list of celebrity collectors. White's work hangs in a number of galleries in North America and he is currently one of the best selling artists in the United Kingdom. Some of White's most prominent exhibitions include a show at the Bank of Scotland in Manchester, England and at the unveiling of The World's Largest Todd White Collection, hosted by CNN's Larry King at Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California. Todd White's work was featured in the opening of Clarendon Fine Art Gallery in Hampstead, London alongside that of leading British contemporary artists Sherree Valentine-Daines and Christian Hook.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Mid Century French Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Vers La Durance
Mid Century French Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Vers La Durance

Mid Century French Expressionist Oil on Canvas, Vers La Durance

Located in Cotignac, FR

French Expressionist oil on canvas of a river and mountain landscape by Gisele Grant-Gapail. The painting is initialled bottom right, signed and dated to the back of the canvas and t...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Large Mid Century French Expressionist Signed Oil Horse Racing Scene
Large Mid Century French Expressionist Signed Oil Horse Racing Scene

Large Mid Century French Expressionist Signed Oil Horse Racing Scene

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

The Horse Race French expressionist artist, mid 20th century signed oil on artist paper, unframed artist paper: 20 x 25.5 inches provenance: private collection, France condition: ov...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Unfurling the Past 2-21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Painting, Oil, Women
Unfurling the Past 2-21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Painting, Oil, Women

Unfurling the Past 2-21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Painting, Oil, Women

By Afolayan Emmanuel

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Maryland Dusk, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Maryland Dusk, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Maryland Dusk, Painting, Oil on Canvas

By Janet Dyer

Located in Yardley, PA

An early-evening scene of Maryland countryside, with fields and distant farms. :: Painting :: Expressionism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Learning How to Breathe Again - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, People

Learning How to Breathe Again - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, People

By Emmanuel Ojebola

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity About Artist Emma...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

Sea of Blues N10, Abstract Blue and White Fish Patterns, Mediterranean Style
Sea of Blues N10, Abstract Blue and White Fish Patterns, Mediterranean Style

Sea of Blues N10, Abstract Blue and White Fish Patterns, Mediterranean Style

By Enric Servera

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 and reminds us of its natural beauty and the importance of its preservation. Details: Title: Sea of Blue N10 Medium: Mixed Media on Paper Size: 63 x 90 cm (28.4 x 35.4 inches). Year: 2021 * Frame is for illustrative purposes only. Artwork shipped carefully rolled and packaged in a tube. * Certificate of Authenticity provided. Enric Servera (Ciutadella de Menorca, 1970) lives and works between Barcelona and Menorca, Spain. His works explores the colors and forms of the ocean, inspired by the fauna and flora of the Mediterranean Sea. His work has shown in galleries across Spain, and is part of several public and private collections. Words that may describe this series of artworks are: Mediterranean-inspired art, abstract sea...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor

CATS
CATS

CATS

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this vibrant composition, I've joyfully blended impressionism with pop art, using acrylic and oil to bring to life these charming feline figures. The piece captures the warmth of ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Still life with peonies
Still life with peonies

Still life with peonies

By Elena Lukina

Located in Zofingen, AG

In creating this piece, I sought to capture the effervescence of nature's transient beauty. I used oil to express the delicate vibrancy of peonies, with my brushstrokes blending impr...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Tamar Zinn “Untitled Landscape” Oil Pastel, 1997
Tamar Zinn “Untitled Landscape” Oil Pastel, 1997

Tamar Zinn “Untitled Landscape” Oil Pastel, 1997

By Tamar Zinn

Located in San Francisco, CA

This autumnal landscape in oil pastel on paper is by New York City artist Tamar Zinn. Before turning to abstraction, Zinn’s artwork focused on Expressionist invented landscapes, of w...

Category

1990s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel

Coit Tower, San Francisco - Mid Century Urban Landscape
Coit Tower, San Francisco - Mid Century Urban Landscape

Coit Tower, San Francisco - Mid Century Urban Landscape

Located in Soquel, CA

Wonderful mid century expressionist urban landscape of Coit Tower and skyline of San Francisco, circa 1950s. Signed lower right illegibly (D. Y'Gasseu?). Co...

Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Tarrasso square. House in the countryside. Original acrylic painting
Tarrasso square. House in the countryside. Original acrylic painting

Tarrasso square. House in the countryside. Original acrylic painting

Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL

Les Guilleries. Original acrylic canvas painting signed work Casimiro Martínez Tarrassó, a painter known simply as Tarrassó. He was trained at the La Llotja School in Barcelona. He c...

Category

1940s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

'Camille VI', Fauve Figural of Young Woman, California Post Impressionist Oil
'Camille VI', Fauve Figural of Young Woman, California Post Impressionist Oil

'Camille VI', Fauve Figural of Young Woman, California Post Impressionist Oil

By Anthony McNaught

Located in Santa Cruz, CA

Signed verso, 'Ant McNaught', (American, 1952-2026), titled 'Camille VI', and dated 2018-2020. This California Post-Impressionist and Abstract Expressionist artist has studied at the Esalen Institute with Erin Gafill and Tom Birmingham...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

"Juges" from the suite "Les Fleurs du Mal""
"Juges" from the suite "Les Fleurs du Mal""

"Juges" from the suite "Les Fleurs du Mal""

By Georges Rouault

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork titled "Juges" from the suite "Les Fleurs du Mal" created in 1937/38, is an original color aquatint on Montval paper by renown French artist Georges Rouault, 1871-1958....

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Aquatint

Still life with watering can and cacti
Still life with watering can and cacti

Still life with watering can and cacti

By William Goliasch

Located in Genève, GE

Work on wood Golden frame Dimensions with frame :64 x 79 x 2.5 cm A close look at this work reveals the artist's astonishing mastery in depicting an apparently simple yet profoundly...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Gouache

Odalisque Watercolour on Paper, Nude Female Figure, Late 20th Century
Odalisque Watercolour on Paper, Nude Female Figure, Late 20th Century

Odalisque Watercolour on Paper, Nude Female Figure, Late 20th Century

Located in Cotignac, FR

Late 20th Century watercolour on paper of a naked female figure before an open window. Signed bottom right but as yet not deciphered. Presented in carved, white painted wood frame. ...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Gouache

Ray of Hope III, Expressionist Oil Painting on Canvas, 21st Century
Ray of Hope III, Expressionist Oil Painting on Canvas, 21st Century

Ray of Hope III, Expressionist Oil Painting on Canvas, 21st Century

By John Ali

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

"Ray of Hope," a poignant creation by artist John Ali, encapsulates a moment of contemplation and the subtle interplay between vulnerability and resilience. The artwork features a yo...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Fox in Flight, Original Painting
Fox in Flight, Original Painting

Fox in Flight, Original Painting

By Timothy Banks

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A fox caught in mid-leap burst to life in dashes of red, gold, and violet. Built with layered washes and spontaneous shapes, the painting suggests the animal's ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Sunny Terrace 25X35
Sunny Terrace 25X35

Sunny Terrace 25X35

By Elena Lukina

Located in Zofingen, AG

In crafting this piece, I've intertwined the essence of expressionism and impressionism, allowing the vibrant colors and bold textures to evoke feelings of warmth and serenity. The f...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

Venice Grand Canal Landscape Bouvard Aldine 19/20th Century Paint Oil on canvas
Venice Grand Canal Landscape Bouvard Aldine 19/20th Century Paint Oil on canvas

Venice Grand Canal Landscape Bouvard Aldine 19/20th Century Paint Oil on canvas

Located in Riva del Garda, IT

Antoine Bouvard, called Marc Aldine (L'Isere 1875 - Paris 1957) Signed 'Bouvard' lower right View of Venice with the Grand Canal (link) oil on canvas 60 x 86 cm Framed 70 x 96 cm. Very good condition We present an evocative view of Venice with a glimpse of the fascinating Grand Canal, signed by the famous French Vedutist Antoine Bouvard, also known by his pseudonym, Marc Aldine. Considered one of the most talented illustrators of the lagoon city who worked there in the first part of the 20th century, he became one of the most acclaimed vedutists of that period, with a success that led him to exhibit throughout France and Italy as well as in numerous European galleries...

Category

19th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Fantasy with Flowers 23
Fantasy with Flowers 23

Fantasy with Flowers 23

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

A Japanese woman
A Japanese woman

A Japanese woman

By Bernard Buffet

Located in OPOLE, PL

Bernard Buffet (1928-1999) - A Japanese woman Lithograph from 1981. Artsit's edition. On Arches paper. Dimensions of work: 53.5 x 39 cm. Hand signed. The work is in Excellent c...

Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Blue Testament 9 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern Africa

Blue Testament 9 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern Africa

By Daniel Owoeye

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Dan...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Blue Testament 6 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern Africa

Blue Testament 6 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern Africa

By Daniel Owoeye

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Dan...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

'Improvisation 7' original first ed. woodcut  from 'Klänge' by Wassily Kandinsky
'Improvisation 7' original first ed. woodcut  from 'Klänge' by Wassily Kandinsky

'Improvisation 7' original first ed. woodcut from 'Klänge' by Wassily Kandinsky

By Wassily Kandinsky

Located in Milwaukee, WI

The present woodcut print comes from 'Klänge (Sounds),' a book of original graphics and poetry by Wassily Kandinsky. This first edition was released in an edition of 300, each book signed and numbered by the artist. The title of the album and this particular print, 'Improvisation,' demonstrated Kandinsky's interest in music and how abstract musical forms could be translated into images on a two-dimensional surface. This particular composition is difficult to read, but through the abstraction, one can make out various figures and a landscape beyond. 7.5 x 5 inches, image 22 x 19.5 inches, frame Woodcut in black ink on laid paper (watermark Van Gelder Zonen) Signed with encircled 'K' in the block, lower right Framed to conservation standards using 100 percent acid free archival materials including silk-lined matting with 1/4 inch bevel, museum glass, and a gold-gilded moulding Ref. Roethel 124 The Museum of Modern Art described 'Klänge (Sounds)' as follows: Vasily Kandinsky's self-described "musical album," Klänge (Sounds), consists of thirty-eight prose-poems he wrote between 1909 and 1911 and fifty-six woodcuts he began in 1907. In the woodcuts Kandinsky veiled his subject matter, creating increasingly indecipherable images (though the horse and rider, his symbol for overcoming objective representation, runs through as a leitmotif). This process proved crucial for the development of abstraction in his art. Kandinsky said his choice of media sprang from an "inner necessity" for expression: the woodcuts were not merely illustrative, nor were the poems purely verbal descriptions. Kandinsky sought a synthesis of the arts, in which meaning was created through the interaction of, and space between, text and image, sound and meaning, mark and blank space. The experimental typography shows his interest in the physical aspects of the book. Klänge is one of three major publications by Kandinsky that appeared shortly before World War I, alongside Über die Geistige in der Kunst (Concerning the Spiritual in Art) and the Blaue Reiter almanac...

Category

1910s Expressionist Art

Materials

Woodcut

Ben (Water in the Hole) -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Landscape, Men
Ben (Water in the Hole) -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Landscape, Men

Ben (Water in the Hole) -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Landscape, Men

By Olamilekan Bello

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issue by ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Pink Lady

Pink Lady

By Jackie Felix

Located in Buffalo, NY

An original oil on canvas painting by American modern female artist Jackie Felix.

Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Ancestor Face - Original lithograph
Ancestor Face - Original lithograph

Ancestor Face - Original lithograph

By Bengt Lindström

Located in Paris, IDF

Bengt Lindström (1925-2008) Ancestor Face Original Lithograph Printed signature in the plate Numbered / 400 ex On vellum 31 x 22.5 cm (c. 12 x 9 in) Excellent condition

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

In the Dales, Original Painting
In the Dales, Original Painting

In the Dales, Original Painting

By Robert Hofherr

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Artist Robert Hofherr captures a group of old barns in an expressive style. Executed quickly and energetically, the piece emphasizes instinct over overthinking....

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

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.