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.
Late 20th Century Expressionist Art
Gouache, Oil Pastel
1970s Expressionist Art
Paper, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Oil
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
20th Century Expressionist Art
Oil, Board
1970s Expressionist Art
Oil, Canvas
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Lacquer, Oil
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Encaustic
1960s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
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 ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Oil
1980s Expressionist Art
Linen, Oil
1930s Expressionist Art
Oil
1970s Expressionist Art
Stone
1920s 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
1950s Expressionist Art
Oil, Board
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
1950s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
1930s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
2010s Expressionist Art
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
1910s Expressionist Art
Paper
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art
Oil
1920s Expressionist Art
Woodcut
2010s Expressionist Art
Wood Panel, Oil
Late 20th Century Expressionist Art
Oil
1970s Expressionist Art
Color, Lithograph
1920s Expressionist Art
Aquatint
1940s Expressionist Art
Watercolor
1890s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
1960s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
Late 20th Century Expressionist Art
Lithograph
Artist Comments
This painting captures an abandoned house nearly concealed by overgrown bushes. The sunlit road extends endlessly into the hori...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
1950s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
1960s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Expressionist Art
Paper
Late 20th Century Expressionist Art
Gouache, Oil Pastel
2010s Expressionist Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
India Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor
2010s Expressionist Art
Oil
Early 1900s Expressionist Art
Paper
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Wood, Acrylic
1950s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
1960s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Pencil
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil