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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
Colourful Abstract Sunset Sky, French Expressionist Original Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
AKOS BIRO (HUNGARIAN 1911-2002) watercolor/ gouache size: 7.5 x 10.5 inches Beautifully colourful, original painting by the very popular and highly regarded Hungarian/ French painte...
Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Gouache, Oil Pastel

Young technicians. 1978, watercolor on paper, 25x28 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Young technicians. 1978, watercolor on paper, 25x28 cm Dzidra Bauma (1930) Dzidra Bauma works in watercolor technique. She paint figural compositions, portraits, landscapes, flower...
Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Blue Towel 2
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Blue Towel" is an artistic composition that demands our attention. The woman wrapped in the titular blue towel stands as a metaphor for the delicate nature...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Sculpted Heritage (Beauty Within Us)
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The Beauty Within Us" is a compelling narrative series of paintings that celebrates the unique and diverse beauty of Black hair, serving as a powerful symbol of identity, heritage, a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Nkechi and Daniel
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Nkechi and Daniel," a heartwarming artwork by Ife Kalejaiye, brings to life the vibrant spirit and innocence of childhood friendship. The composition ce...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Oil

Tree Row by Field, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A row of slender trees lines a road in Provence, France. As artist Janet Dyer drove by, she was captivated by the configuration of the trunks against the pale...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Large Judaica Oil Painting Rabbi Rediscovered NY Artist Simchat Torah
Located in Surfside, FL
"Simchat Torah" by Jonah Kinigstein Large Oil on Board Painting of Rabbi Frame: 46 X 32 Image: 39 X 25.5 Jonah Kinigstein (b. 1923) is an American Postwar & Contemporary painter. H...
Category

20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Dracaena, Botanical Garden Plant Still-Life
Located in Soquel, CA
Fun and expressive botanical still-life painting of a Dracaena plant in front of a window by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (American, b.1957), 1976. The bright green leaves are depi...
Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Burgundy peonies, blue flowers in a vase.Candles and antique table.
Located in Zofingen, AG
A gorgeous, luxurious lovely summer bouquet of flowers in a blue vase. Blue wildflowers of forget-me-nots grow at my mother's cottage. White flowers appeared in the forest, delicate....
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Lacquer, Oil

Stagecoach Road
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A cradled panel is laid with vintage sewing tissues as a mordant to adhere the beeswax. I did an underpainting in ink then used a prismatic palette to lead th...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Encaustic

Chagall, Angel with sword (Mourlot 117-46; Cramer 25) (after)
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on wove paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the volume, Drawings from the Bible by Marc Chagall, Verve: Revue Artistique et...
Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Field herbs of Provence 30X40 oil.
Located in Zofingen, AG
With each brushstroke, I sought to capture the essence of wild, untamed beauty. This piece, alive with color and emotion, embodies the vibrancy found in nature's own canvas. Each pop...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Romance in Paris 55X40 oil on canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've captured the essence of love and beauty inspired by the enchanting city of Paris. The vivid, soft brushstrokes of the blooming roses in the foreground are ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Surfs Up, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
With low tide, the sand stretches out towards the receding waterline, revealing a shallow pool of water reflecting the sky. A solitary cloud watches over the ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

'Riflessi A Tiburon', by Marco Sassone, Oil on Linen, Waterfront Landscape, 1983
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed oil on linen painting, 'Riflessi A Tiburon,' by Marco Sassone, an American-Italian painter, is measured at 30 x 24 inches in a horizontal format. Sassone paints an Expres...
Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Linen, Oil

Le Vin Nouveau
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Presenting the ultimate wine painting! This is a monumental oil painting by French artist Maurice Georges Poncelet. "Le Vin Nouveau", (The New WIne), is an original oil on canvas, s...
Category

1930s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Vintage Figurative Abstract Tribal Creature Head Sculpture
Located in Soquel, CA
Evocative figurative abstract sculpture of the head of a tribal creature by Nathaniel Sirles (American, b. 1954). Signed and dated "N. Sirles 1970" on the bottom. Sirles completed th...
Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Stone

Dame mit Reiher (Woman with a Tuft of Heron Feathers) /// German Expressionism
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Otto Dix (German, 1891-1969) Title: "Dame mit Reiher (Woman with a Tuft of Heron Feathers)" Portfolio: Die Schaffenden, Vol. 5, No. 1 *Signed and dated by Dix in pencil lower right Year: 1923 Medium: Original Lithograph on light cream smooth wove paper Limited edition: approx. 120 Printer: likely the artist Dix himself, Düsseldorf, Germany Publisher: Euphorion Verlag, Berlin, Germany Reference: "Otto Dix: Das Graphische Werk" - Karsch No. 62/II c, pages 84, 147 Sheet size: 16.25" x 12.25" Condition: In excellent condition Rare Notes: Provenance: private collection - Robert Kuennen, Oberlin, OH. Euphorion Verlag chop mark/blind stamp lower right. "Dix Fraukopf" (Dix Woman Head) pencil inscribed lower center. "The brim of her hat loops to make a shadow, the better to show her gaunt profile. Strands of hair writhe against her cheek and complement a fur stole on her shoulder. In 1923 Otto Dix went to Düsseldorf to learn new printing skills, including lithography which would show his drawing skills to better effect. He made a series of character studies, including this affecting portrayal of a pale woman reduced almost to a shadow of herself. Eyes closed to the exquisite world represented by those materials set out by the artist, she seems scarcely aware." - Sotheby's, London, UK Biography: Otto Dix (born December 2, 1891, Untermhaus, Thuringia, Germany—died...
Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

What Remains, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Vintage Mid-Century Swedish Floral Still Life Oil Painting - Hyacinths
Located in Bristol, GB
HYACINTHS Size: 52 x 42 cm (including frame) Oil on Board An expressive and beautifully textured mid-century floral still life painting, executed in oil onto board. The composition...
Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Evening colors by the river
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this oil painting, I sought to capture the tranquil yet vibrant essence of nature's beauty. Melding impressionism with touches of realism, I've layered texture and color to evoke...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Chagall, Composition (Mourlot 192-207; Cramer 34) (after)
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on vélin paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition, with centerfold, as issued. Notes: From the volume, Chagall, 1957. Published by Maeght, Éd...
Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Les Visages, Lithograph by Georges Rouault (After)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Les Visages Georges Rouault (After), French (1871–1958) Date of original: 1932 Lithograph, signed in the plate Image Size: 6 x 8 inches Size: 9 x 12 in. (22.86 x 30.48 cm)
Category

1930s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Venice 3
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this fervent composition, I melded acrylics and oils to capture Venice's aura, blending realism's clarity with impressionism's vigor and expressionism's raw emotion. Each stroke e...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard

R. Layni, Zeichnungen folio, "Male Nude in Red Loincloth" Collotype plate II
Located in Chicago, IL
After Egon Schiele (1890 – 1918), AUSTRIA “ART CANNOT BE MODERN, ART IS PRIMORDIALLY ETERNAL.” -SCHIELE Defiantly iconoclastic in life and art, Egon Schiele is esteemed for his mas...
Category

1910s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper

Spring poppies 50X50
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I've poured my soul into the vivid crimson blooms, contrasting against the subdued greens and blues, evoking life's vibrancy. Each stroke is a breath, blendin...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Racehorses Galloping in Burnt Orange Field Beautiful French Expressionist Oil
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Chantilly French Expressionist artist, 20th century oil on board, framed framed: 17.5 x 21 inches board: 13 x 16 inches inscribed verso provenance: private collection, France condit...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Max Weber Woodcut Print from "Primitives" Poetry Book Signed
Located in Detroit, MI
ONE WEEK ONLY SALE This woodcut print is an expressionist print on one of the poems from Max Weber's poetry collection "Primitives: Poems and Woodcuts". This work is signed in penci...
Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Woodcut

"Young Woman with Red Hair" by Wilson - Soft Figurative Woman Nude Oil Painting
Located in Carmel, CA
Shana Wilson (Canadian, born 1966) "Young Woman with Red Hair" 2014 Oil Paint, Wood Panel The artist signed the back of the painting. About the Artist: Shana Wilson, born in Edmonto...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Wood Panel, Oil

ARMAND ROTTENBERG (1903-2000) LARGE FRENCH EXPRESSIONIST ABSTRACT OIL
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"Ete Indien" by Armand Rottenberg (French 1903-2000) inscribed verso, oil painting on board, framed board: 52 x 39 inches frame: 53 x 40 inches Stunning original French expression...
Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Chagall At Pace/Columbus - Marc Chagall - Lithography
Located in Winterswijk, NL
"Chagall At Pace/Columbus" by Marc Chagall Exhibition poster Color offset lithography Signed in the print Publisher: Pace Gallery, Columbus
Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Color, Lithograph

Bon Electeur, 1928 Aquatint on Arches by Georges Rouault
Located in Long Island City, NY
Bon Electeur from Le Reincarnations du Pere Ubu Georges Rouault, French (1871–1958) Date: 1928 Aquatint on Arches, signed in the plate Image Size: 10 x 7 inches Size: 17 x 13 in. (43...
Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Aquatint

Swiss Mountain by Karl Speglitz - Watercolor 13x17 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper Dimension with pass 31.7 x 24 cm
Category

1940s Expressionist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Gerlach's Allegorien Folio, plate #53: "Junius" Lithograph, Gustav Klimt.
Located in Chicago, IL
Contributors to Gerlach & Schenk’s publications valued design and innovation in the graphic arts just as much as they examined allegories as subject matter for exploration. Here, Gus...
Category

1890s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Hopeful
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
You must create your own destiny when life doesn't always go the way you have planned it. You must never give up on your dreams or allow depression to set into your life because suic...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Cowboy
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This painting is depicting the enthusiasm, strength, and passion in getting things done with the readiness to achieve the dream of their talent and charisma Shipping Procedure Ship...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Chagall, Moses Receiving Tables of Law (Mourlot 117-46; Cramer 25) (after)
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on vélin des Papeteries du Marais paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the volume, Drawings from the Bible by Marc Chagall, ...
Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

La soupière bleue, 1990, original lithograph by Jean Jansem, handsigned numbered
Located in Les Acacias GE, GE
Jean Jansem (1920-2013) La soupière bleue, 1990, Lithographie sur papier Japon Signée en bas à droite et justifiée en bas à gauche 50 x 65 cm / 54 x 76 cm Edition à 120 exemplaires sur Arches plus 30 épreuves d'artiste. Ce rare exemplaire d'une édition à 30 épreuves sur papier Japon numérotées en chiffre romain. Bibliographie: Imprimeur: Mourlot, Paris Editeur: Galerie 10, Paris Bibliographie: Jansem Lithographe, 1984-1993, Flora Jansem, Paris, n. 50, reproduit p. 56, référencé p. 109. "Ma première lithographie date de 1954. Elle représente un enfant en haillons portant deux seaux d'eau, d'après un croquis rapporté de Cordoue lors de mon voyage en Espagne en 1952. Je l'exécutai sur pierre, au pinceau et à l'encre lithographique. Je fus déçu du résultat et n'en tirai qu'un essai et une épreuve. Quatre ans plus tard, je réalisai une dizaine de nouvelles lithographies, toujours sur pierre, la plupart en noir. Au lieu d'employer l'encre et le crayon...
Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Abandoned House, Southwest, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
This painting captures an abandoned house nearly concealed by overgrown bushes. The sunlit road extends endlessly into the hori...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Dialogue With Butterfly
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Dialogue With Butterfly" is a captivating piece of art that portrays a man with a butterfly in his hand. This artwork is a visual representation of the profound connection between m...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

The snowman and the rabbit are handing out gifts to everyone
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I sought to capture the essence of joy and the spirit of giving. The snowman, with its wide grin and open arms, represents the warmth of celebration amidst a ch...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Chagall, Composition (Mourlot 192-207; Cramer 34) (after)
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on vélin paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the volume, Chagall, 1957. Published by Maeght, Éditeur, Paris; printed by Mou...
Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Crossed Arms (Portrait of a Blond), Nude Oil Portrait by Jan De Ruth
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Jan De Ruth, Czech (1922 - 1991) Title: Crossed Arms (Portrait of a Blonde) Year: circa 1964 Medium: Oil on Canvas Size: 35 in. x 25 in. (88.9 cm x 63.5 cm) Frame Size: 44 x ...
Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

H.O. Miethke Das Werk folio "Death and Life" collotype print
Located in Chicago, IL
DAS WERK GUSTAV KLIMTS, a portfolio of 50 prints, ten of which are multicolor collotypes on chine colle paper laid down on hand-made heavy cream wove paper with deckled edges; under ...
Category

Early 1900s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper

Provence Sunset French Expressionist Original Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
AKOS BIRO (HUNGARIAN 1911-2002) watercolour/ gouache painting on card, signed size: 7.75 x 10.75inches Beautifully colourful, original painting by the very popular and highly regard...
Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Gouache, Oil Pastel

Sail away, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original oil on canvas on wooden stretcher, box canvas, signed on the front. Certificate of authenticity included. :: Painting :: Expressionism :: This piece comes with an official ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Inner Joy
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The artwork "Inner Joy" portrays a lady sitting in a relaxed position with a peaceful smile on her face. This piece of art speaks volumes about the importance of finding inner happin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Illustration Style, Exotic Flamingo Bouquet, Tropical Flowers in Red on Paper
Located in Barcelona, ES
This vibrant painting captures the striking beauty and elegant forms of Flamingo flowers. Sweeping brushstrokes and vivid colors bring these flowers to life, highlighting their styli...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

India Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor

Time after time, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original oil on canvas on wooden stretcher, box canvas, signed on the front. Certificate of authenticity included. :: Painting :: Expressionism :: This piece comes with an official ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

"Reclined Woman w/Necklace" by Gustav Klimt - Original Print - Courtesans Folio
Located in Chicago, IL
Plate #7 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

Dancing in the rain 60X30 oil
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant oil painting, I've captured the essence of unbridled joy and carefree abandon. Two figures dance beneath a crimson umbrella, their movements a blend of expressionism ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Town Square, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A town square boasts structures with mixed architectural styles. Lively street performers and the crowd enjoy each other's company. It captures the vibrant es...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Carnival of colour
Located in Coltishall, GB
Carnival of colour. Inspired by Rachaels life in Norfolk where she she enjoys dog walks along the North Norfolk coast and working in her studio close to the Norfolk Broads. Surrounde...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Acrylic

Chagall, Composition (Cramer 26; Mourlot 153), Derrière le Miroir (after)
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on vélin paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered. Good condition, with centerfold, as issued. Notes: From Derrière le miroir, N° 92-93. Published by Aimé Maeght, Édite...
Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Chagall, Composition (Mourlot 411; Cramer 59), Derrière le miroir (after)
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on vélin paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered. Good condition. Notes: From Derrière le miroir, N° 147. Published by Aimé Maeght, Éditeur, Paris; printed by Éditions...
Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Sunny pond 70X50 oil painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant oil on canvas, I sought to capture the serene yet lively spirit of nature. The dappling light dances on water, illuminating lily pads and blossoms, creating a symphon...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Stay With Me
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
'Stay with me' highlights the importance of company and friendships in our lives for days when we are not strong alone. While considering the positive role companionship takes in loneliness, mental health, and wellness. 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 (Issued by the Gallery) About Artist: Born in Lagos (Nigeria) in 1994 and based in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Eniafe Gbenga...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Pencil

Red & Red 30X30 oil painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I've poured my fascination with color and light into every stroke, crafting a vibrant dialogue between form and space. The rich, warm reds anchor the composition, exud...
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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