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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
Marc Chagall, The Red Horse, from XXe Siecle, 1970
Marc Chagall, The Red Horse, from XXe Siecle, 1970

Marc Chagall, The Red Horse, from XXe Siecle, 1970

By Marc Chagall

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Le Cheval Rouge (The Red Horse), from the album XXe Siecle, XXXIIe Annee, Nouvelle serie, No. 34, Juin 1970, originates ...

Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Strawberries
Strawberries

Strawberries

By Elena Lukina

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this oil painting, I attempted to capture the vivid textures and luminous vibrancy of strawberries. Using a blend of expressionism and impressionism, I focused on the interplay of...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

RUN
RUN

RUN

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this painting, I've captured the vibrant essence of freedom and movement against a backdrop of majestic mountains and an expansive sky. The bold strokes of acrylic and oil blend a...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard

Fantasy with Flowers 4
Fantasy with Flowers 4

Fantasy with Flowers 4

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

Acrylic, Oil Pastel, Archival Paper

Standing Nude Man, Expressionist Bronze Sculpture, possibly by Arbit Blatas
Standing Nude Man, Expressionist Bronze Sculpture, possibly by Arbit Blatas

Standing Nude Man, Expressionist Bronze Sculpture, possibly by Arbit Blatas

Located in Long Island City, NY

Unknown Artist, Possibly Arbit Blatas - Standing Nude Man, Medium: Bronze Sculpture, Size: 14.25 x 3.5 x 3.5 in. (36.2 x 8.89 x 8.89 cm)

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Bronze

Men With Cigar - Woodcut - Early 20th Century

Men With Cigar - Woodcut - Early 20th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Men With Cigar is a woodcut print realized by an Anonymous artist in the early 20th Century. Good condition. The artwork is depicted through quick and expressive strokes in a well-...

Category

Early 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Woodcut

SEA, SAILS, MOUNTAIN
SEA, SAILS, MOUNTAIN

SEA, SAILS, MOUNTAIN

Located in Zofingen, AG

As I created this painting, I sought to capture the dynamic interplay between nature and human endeavor. The bold sails against the twilight sky symbolize the courage it takes to emb...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Fishing Port
Fishing Port

Fishing Port

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this painting, I've melded acrylic and oil to capture the vibrant, ever-moving essence of the fishing port. Inspired by expressionism and impressionism, the thick, intentional str...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard

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

Etching with Hand Watercolor Painting Jules Pascin Pencil Signed
Etching with Hand Watercolor Painting Jules Pascin Pencil Signed

Etching with Hand Watercolor Painting Jules Pascin Pencil Signed

By Jules Pascin

Located in Surfside, FL

Genre: German Expressionist Subject: Figures Medium: etching, watercolor paint Surface: Paper This is hand signed lower right.. there does not seem to be an edition size although th...

Category

Early 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Etching

Listen, I am Here
Listen, I am Here

Listen, I am Here

By Eniafe Gbenga

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

'Listen, I am here' is an art Gbenga Eniafe created from the realities of his people. The everyday creative is overlooked even as he presses on. The purple represents his distinctive...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Looking Beyond 5
Looking Beyond 5

Looking Beyond 5

By Damola Ayegbayo

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, Acrylic

Moonlight night
Moonlight night

Elena LukinaMoonlight night, 2018

$468Sale Price|20% Off

Moonlight night

By Elena Lukina

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this piece, I've sought to capture the tranquil yet powerful essence of a serene night. The oil paints allowed me to layer emotions with every stroke, imbuing the scene with a sen...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Bad For Your Health

Bad For Your Health

By Todd White

Located in Toronto, ON

33.75" x 17.5" Unframed Limited Edition Giclée with Hand Embellishment of 135 Hand Signed by Todd White “Definitely a painting about the ones you know are a total mistake from the ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Giclée

Destination Unknown, Original Painting
Destination Unknown, Original Painting

Destination Unknown, Original Painting

By Robert Hofherr

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Seen from above, this colorful view of a small village highlights the dynamic play of color. Bold primary hues, softened secondary shades, and muted tones overl...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

"Real cat"
"Real cat"

"Real cat"

By Tetiana Tarasenko

Located in Edinburgh, GB

I love my ginger cat.He can be completely different!). When he's really annoyed he becomes like this! And it's better not to stand in his way)))

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

In Blue
In Blue

In Blue

By Rotimi Godwin

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

In Blue, Yes, I'm in blue not because I choose to but because that's who l am and it tells my story. With a hoodie because I came from this very hood. I drank...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Woman Leaning Forward" by Gustav Klimt - Original Print from Courtesans Folio
"Woman Leaning Forward" by Gustav Klimt - Original Print from Courtesans Folio

"Woman Leaning Forward" by Gustav Klimt - Original Print from Courtesans Folio

By Gustav Klimt

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Plate #3 from Gustav Klimt's 1907 "Dialogues of the Courtesans" portfolio, consisting of 15 collotypes on cream japon paper. The drawings in this folio are said to be studies for Klimt's well-known Water Serpents paintings...

Category

Early 1900s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper

Clown sur Fond Bleu
Clown sur Fond Bleu

Clown sur Fond Bleu

By Bernard Buffet

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork, titled "Clown sur Fond Bleu" from the suite "Clowns" 1985, is an original color lithograph on Arches watermarked paper by renown French artist Bernard Buffet, 1928-1999...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Higher Life
Higher Life

Higher Life

By Bright Toh

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Bright Toh's creative vision is driven by a deep-rooted appreciation for his African heritage and a desire to pay homage to the intrinsic ties between the people of Africa and their natural surroundings. "Higher Life" stands as a testament to the exquisite synergy that exists between man and wildlife, shedding light on the harmonious relationship they share within their common ecosystem. The central figure in the artwork, a man adorned with the head of a bird, serves as a powerful representation of the mystical connection between humans and nature. The bird, with its freedom to soar through the skies, symbolizes the aspirations of the African people to rise above challenges and embrace a higher state of being. This metamorphosis of man into a bird-like form underscores the spiritual journey of self-discovery and cultural understanding that lies at the heart of African traditions. Toh's meticulous attention to detail and masterful use of colors breathe life into the canvas. The vibrant hues mimic the rich landscapes of Africa, from the lush greenery of the savannahs to the striking plumage of its avian inhabitants. Through a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary artistic techniques, Toh weaves together a tapestry that celebrates the convergence of African heritage and its intertwined relationship with wildlife. The concept of totems holds immense significance in various African cultures, where ancestral reverence is deeply ingrained. In "Higher Life," the man's bird head serves as a totemic representation of his connection to his ancestors, carrying with it the wisdom and experiences of those who came before him. The totem acts as a guiding force, leading the man on a journey of self-discovery and connection to his roots. As viewers immerse themselves in "Higher Life," they are invited to contemplate the timeless relationship between man and nature. Toh's artwork urges us to recognize the importance of preserving our shared environment and the imperative role of cultural heritage in shaping our identities. In a world marked by rapid urbanization and detachment from nature, "Higher Life" serves as a poignant reminder of the intrinsic bond between humanity and the animal kingdom. Bright Toh's artistic prowess in "Higher Life" transcends cultural boundaries, beckoning audiences from all corners of the globe to appreciate the profound unity between humans and wildlife. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of African traditions and an encouragement to embrace our roots as an essential part of who we are. In conclusion, "Higher Life" is not just a stunning work of art; it is an exploration of our place in the world and the intricate ties that bind us with our environment and cultural heritage. Through the captivating portrayal of a man with a bird...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Frontal Street Scene
Frontal Street Scene

Frontal Street Scene

By Lester Johnson

Located in San Francisco, CA

This lithograph is immediately identifiable as the work of Lester Johnson (1919-2010) . The print is titled “Frontal Street Scene.” It was published in 1970 by Collector’s Press. Th...

Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Solicitude IV
Solicitude IV

Solicitude IV

By Akande John

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

"Solicitude" invites the audience into a world of contemplation and reflection, where the central theme revolves around the power of empathy and its a...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Funfair - 1950's French Expressionist Mid Century Oil on Canvas Painting
Funfair - 1950's French Expressionist Mid Century Oil on Canvas Painting

Funfair - 1950's French Expressionist Mid Century Oil on Canvas Painting

By André Beaucé

Located in Sevenoaks, GB

A wonderful 1950's French expressionist oil on canvas depicting figures at a busy funfair, by Parisian artist André Beaucé. Excellent quality work painted with thick impasto brush work. Signed lower centre. Artist: André Beaucé (French, 1911-1974) Title: Funfair Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 25.5 x 21 inches (65 x 54 cm) André Beaucé was a French painter born on May 23, 1911 in Rennes and died on January 2, 1974 in Paris . A pupil of the School of Fine Arts in Rennes, a graduate of the National School of Decorative Arts where he was admitted in 1932, André Beaucé was a pupil in the workshops of André Lhote and Simon, with Yves Brayer . He won the Abd-el-Tif prize in 1946 and was a regular at the Salon d'Automne. After having lived for several years in Algeria, and in particular at Villa Abd El Tif where he was a scholarship holder from 1946 to 1948, André Beaucé returned to France in 1949 and resumed his teaching at the Schools of Paris. His painting is then powerfully expressionist, free from any system. In the 1950s, we notice vigorous, uncompromising, intense portraits, captured in an almost caricatural way. The tones, always very mounted, are opposed with force in a composition cut with vigor. After the dark years of the war, Beaucé’s art reflects a violent vision of a certain reality that is always brutal and yet magnificent. Exhibitions Paris, 1936 to 1945, Salon of the National Society of Fine Arts . Tunis, 1946, Exhibition of French Africa. Algiers, 1947, Abd-el-Tif. Paris, 1948, Letourneur gallery. Paris, from 1950 to 1960, Salon d'Automne and Salon Comparaisons . Paris, 1962, Roy's gallery. Paris, May 1963, Exhibition organized on the occasion of the Estates General on Disarmament , Cercle Volney. First Salon Biarritz - San Sebastian: School of Paris - Painting, sculpture: André Beauce, Georges-André Klein , Adrienne Jouclard , Jean Joyet , Robert Lotiron , Roland Bierge , Andrée Bordeaux-Le Pecq , Henri Hayden , Franck Innocent , Germaine Lacaze...

Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Evening Bay
Evening Bay

Evening Bay

Located in Zofingen, AG

The canvas is glued onto thick cardboard. In this painting, I poured my fascination with the interplay of light on water, using acrylic and oil to capture the ephemeral glow of sunse...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard

Screen Time, Oil Painting
Screen Time, Oil Painting

Screen Time, Oil Painting

By George Peebles

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The artwork offers a glimpse of a peaceful summer day at the beach. The tranquil sea stretches into the distance, while the sandy, pink shore gradually transi...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Focus
Focus

Focus

By Taiwo Odejinmi

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, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic

To Marry, For My People, Elizabeth Catlett
To Marry, For My People, Elizabeth Catlett

To Marry, For My People, Elizabeth Catlett

By Elizabeth Catlett

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin d’Arches 300gm paper. Paper Size: 21.8125 x 18.3125 inches. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Notes: From the album, For My People, 1992. Published...

Category

1990s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Deux danseuses, 1995, original lithograph by Jean Jansem, handsigned, numbered
Deux danseuses, 1995, original lithograph by Jean Jansem, handsigned, numbered

Deux danseuses, 1995, original lithograph by Jean Jansem, handsigned, numbered

By Jean Jansem

Located in Les Acacias GE, GE

Jean Jansem (1920-2013) Deux danseuses, 1995 Lithographie sur papier Arches, justifiée et numérotée EA Signée en bas à droite 22 x 17 cm / 32 x 26 cm Bibliographie: Catalogue raiso...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

AGONY
AGONY

Robert PhilippiAGONY, c. 1920

$600Sale Price|20% Off

AGONY

Located in Santa Monica, CA

ROBERT PHILIPPI (Austrian 1877-1959) KNEELING NUDE. c. 1923 (Chrastek, Widder 2019, p. 162, N° 461) (in Rifkind Collection, LACMA: From a portfolio of 1...

Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Woodcut

"Femme Fiere" from the suite "Les Fleurs du Mal""
"Femme Fiere" from the suite "Les Fleurs du Mal""

"Femme Fiere" from the suite "Les Fleurs du Mal""

By Georges Rouault

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork titled "Femme Fiere" 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-...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Aquatint

Jacob Lawrence, Man with Birds, from Hiroshima, 1983
Jacob Lawrence, Man with Birds, from Hiroshima, 1983

Jacob Lawrence, Man with Birds, from Hiroshima, 1983

By Jacob Lawrence

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite silkscreen by Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000), titled Man with Birds, from the album Hiroshima, originates from the 1983 edition published by The Limited Editions Club, New...

Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Screen

Stroud Valley
Stroud Valley

Stroud Valley

By Eleanor Woolley

Located in Deddington, GB

Stroud Valley is an Original Painting by Eleanor Woolley. Stroud valley is a bright colourful depiction of one of the artist's favourite places. It shows the end of the Cotswold esca...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Morning in a sunny vineyard
Morning in a sunny vineyard

Morning in a sunny vineyard

By Elena Lukina

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this painting, I captured the vibrant energy of a sunlit vineyard at dawn, blending impressionism and realism to evoke warmth and renewal. The golden hues reflect the morning ligh...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Macaw Parrot
Macaw Parrot

Macaw Parrot

By Elena Lukina

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this oil painting, I infused the vibrant spirit of the macaw with a lively blend of expressionism and impressionism. The thick, textured strokes capture the dynamic essence of the...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

"Crouching Woman" Bronze Sculpture by Felipe Castañeda, Circa 1972, III/VI
"Crouching Woman" Bronze Sculpture by Felipe Castañeda, Circa 1972, III/VI

"Crouching Woman" Bronze Sculpture by Felipe Castañeda, Circa 1972, III/VI

By Felipe Castañeda

Located in San Francisco, CA

Felipe Castañeda Mujer Agachada (Crouching Woman), 1972 Bronze, wood base 12 x 9.5 x 11.5 inches Edition III/VI Most recent owners acquired this limited-edition bronze sculpture fro...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Bronze

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

Gladiolus
Gladiolus

Gladiolus

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this energetic piece, I've unleashed a symphony of vibrant colors and passionate strokes to celebrate life's vivacity. Merging expressionism with a touch of pop art, I've used acr...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Satin Paper

Fruit Trees by Gustav Klimt, Das Werk lifetime landscape collotype, 1908-1912
Fruit Trees by Gustav Klimt, Das Werk lifetime landscape collotype, 1908-1912

Fruit Trees by Gustav Klimt, Das Werk lifetime landscape collotype, 1908-1912

By Gustav Klimt

Located in Chicago, IL

Original collotype created from Gustav Klimt’s Impressionist Fruit Trees landscape, painted in 1901. Published and edited by Verlag H.O. Miethke and printed by k.k. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Vienna, in an edition of 300. Between 1908 and 1914, H.O. Miethke published Das Werk Gustav Klimts...

Category

Early 1900s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper

Carpet of Bluebells, Rachael Dalzell, Acrylic on Canvas with Tray Frame
Carpet of Bluebells, Rachael Dalzell, Acrylic on Canvas with Tray Frame

Carpet of Bluebells, Rachael Dalzell, Acrylic on Canvas with Tray Frame

By Rachael Dalzell

Located in Coltishall, GB

The colours of spring as bluebells carpet the woods at Blickling Rachael’s paintings are large, colourful and expressive. Her free and lively use of paint through various technique...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Copons     original acrylic
Copons     original acrylic

Copons original acrylic

By Joan Copons

Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL

Original work of the Spanish artist Joan COPONS. -Barcelona-jardin. original acrylic painting

Category

1990s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mirando al Cielo 6 - Murmuration Misty Country Landscape Photograph

Mirando al Cielo 6 - Murmuration Misty Country Landscape Photograph

By Rosa Basurto

Located in Brighton, GB

Mirando al Cielo 6 is a beautiful 30cm x 30cm Digital Print on 50cm x 50cm Cotton Paper. This is a Limited Edition of 9 + 2 Artist Proofs in this size. Rosa Basurto is a self-taught...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Color, C Print, Photographic Paper, Digital

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.