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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
Silence, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Silence, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Silence, Painting, Oil on Canvas

By Anamaria Cepoi

Located in Yardley, PA

œWe sit silently and watch the world around us. This has taken a lifetime to learn. It seems only the old are able to sit next to one another and not say anything and still feel cont...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

signed original etching - Artist's Proof

signed original etching - Artist's Proof

By Jack Levine

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: original soft ground etching. Signed in pencil and annotated "Artist's Proof". Printed in 1967 for the Dreigroschen Film portfolio and published by Touchstone Publishers. Thi...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

Ajoke - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative Portrait of Modern Woman, Umbrella
Ajoke - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative Portrait of Modern Woman, Umbrella

Ajoke - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative Portrait of Modern Woman, Umbrella

By Ogunleke Festus Abiodun

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 Ogu...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Winterstimmung 2, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Winterstimmung 2, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Winterstimmung 2, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By Karin Goeppert

Located in Yardley, PA

3 small paintings which convey the joys and beauty of winter. It mustn't be a dark season. The works are painted with acrylic colours on canvas. They are ready to hang. They are prot...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

"Grand Studio Celebration Variation, " Mixed Media signed by David Barnett
"Grand Studio Celebration Variation, " Mixed Media signed by David Barnett

"Grand Studio Celebration Variation, " Mixed Media signed by David Barnett

By David Barnett

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Grand Studio Celebration Variation" is an original mixed media piece by David Barnett. The artist signed the piece in the lower right and used watercolor, ink, and iridescent acryli...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Archival Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Watercolor, Rag Paper

Contemporary Splatters of Vibrant Red Background w. Bull & Woman Form Painting
Contemporary Splatters of Vibrant Red Background w. Bull & Woman Form Painting

Contemporary Splatters of Vibrant Red Background w. Bull & Woman Form Painting

Located in ALCOY/ALCOI, ES

Title: «La Bruja» Collection: Muses Description: Acrylic on canvas, figurative, Vibrant, modern "Who is the witch of the big city today? How does she stand out from everyone else? She wants to break the rules and obeys her inner voice, she is not afraid to be herself, she chooses her own path, she lets magic enter her life every day, because living her life and loving herself is true magic." The artwork in question may celebrate the power and freedom of self-expression. The focus is on a woman who defies convention and chooses to live life on her own terms. She is described as a "witch," which suggests that she is seen as someone who is in touch with the mystical and the spiritual. The artwork may depict this woman as a bold and confident figure, with an unapologetic attitude and a strong sense of personal style. The imagery may be colorful and fantastical, with elements of nature and magic woven into the composition. The artwork may also convey a sense of joy and empowerment, with the message that being true to oneself is the ultimate form of magic. Overall, the artwork celebrates individuality, creativity, and the courage to pursue one's own path in life. Victoria Tsemka...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Fisherman
Fisherman

Fisherman

By Pep Suari

Located in Austin, TX

By Pep Suari 39" x 39" Acrylic on Canvas

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

original etching

original etching

By Leonard Baskin

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: original etching. Printed in 1984 on Cartiere Magnani paper at the atelier of Bruce Chandler in an edition of 1500. This work was executed by Leonard Baskin to illustrate the...

Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

Hard Candy

Hard Candy

By Todd White

Located in Toronto, ON

40" x 30" Unframed Limited Edition Giclee with Hand Embellishment of 100 Hand Signed by Todd White Todd white captures restaurant, night and Hollywood scenes with contrasting color...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Giclée

Girl at Desk, Expressionist Portrait of Young Woman by Philadelphia Artist
Girl at Desk, Expressionist Portrait of Young Woman by Philadelphia Artist

Girl at Desk, Expressionist Portrait of Young Woman by Philadelphia Artist

By Bernard Harmon

Located in Doylestown, PA

"Girl at Desk" is an oil on board portrait painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon of a young woman, presumably a student, sitting by her desk. This work features a second portrait on verso of an elegant older woman. The painting is 40" x 36" in size and is signed "Harmon" on verso. Figurative expressionism in the style of Alice Neel. Bernard Harmon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935. Harmon was primarily a portrait painter and a well loved teacher in the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Philadelphia Museum School and Temples Tyler School of Art, Harmon traveled extensively in Europe and South America. Beloved by many, Harmon taught in the Philadelphia School District for 32 of his 54 years of life. Beginning his career as an art teacher at West Philadelphia High School, in the early 1960s he became one of the district's artists in residence, traveling from school to school to demonstrate for students how an artist works. Returning to the classroom, Harmon joined the art department at Central High School where he taught for 14 years and became an innovator in art curriculum, developing a program offering advanced placement art classes to gifted students. In his final years Harmon became a supervisor, mentoring teachers and overseeing programs in the Philadelphia school systems District #1. During his short life Harmon taught collage preparatory art classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, summer classes at the University of the Arts, and a Saturday program for gifted children at Drexel University. Among Harmon's portraits were commissioned by Philadelphia Jazz organist Jimmy Smith and Mayor Richardson Dilworth. Bernard Harmon was active in promoting African American Artist throughout his life time. He organized many early shows such as the "Afro American Artists 1800 - 1969" at the Museum of the Philadelphia Civic Center in 1969. He was considered a Renaissance man by friends and colleagues for his interests not only in art but music and theater as well. He was familiar and friends with many other African American artists such as Doc Thrash, Selma Burke, Paul Keene...

Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Marc Chagall, Ruth the Gleaner, from Drawings for the Bible, 1960
Marc Chagall, Ruth the Gleaner, from Drawings for the Bible, 1960

Marc Chagall, Ruth the Gleaner, from Drawings for the Bible, 1960

By Marc Chagall

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Ruth glaneuse (Ruth the Gleaner), from Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), Verve: Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. X, No. 37-38, originates from the July 29, 1960 issue published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1960. This visionary composition reflects Chagall’s poetic interpretation of the biblical story of Ruth, evoking themes of devotion, humility, and providence through his luminous color and dreamlike symbolism. The flowing forms and radiant imagery convey a sense of quiet resilience and spiritual grace, capturing Ruth’s act of gleaning and its deeper significance within Chagall’s distinctive visual language. Infused with movement and lyricism, the work transforms sacred narrative into a meditative vision of faith, sustenance, and divine care. The piece forms part of Chagall’s celebrated series of lithographs and drawings created for Dessins Pour La Bible, a monumental project uniting art, scripture, and mysticism in one of the artist’s most important achievements. Executed as a lithograph on velin du Marais paper, this work measures 14 x 10.5 inches (35.56 x 26.67 cm). Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of the Mourlot Freres atelier, renowned for its collaborations with the greatest modern masters of the 20th century. Artwork Details: Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985) Title: Ruth glaneuse (Ruth the Gleaner), from Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), Verve: Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. X, No. 37-38, July 29, 1960 Medium: Lithograph on velin du Marais paper Dimensions: 14 x 10.5 inches (35.56 x 26.67 cm) Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1960 Publisher: Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Catalogue raisonne references: Chagall, Marc, et al. Chagall Lithographe. Andre Sauret, 1960-1986, illustration 230-276. Cramer, Patrick, and Meret Meyer. Marc Chagall: Catalogue Raisonne des Livres Illustres. P. Cramer ed., 1995, illustration 42. Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), Verve: Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. X, No. 37-38, published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, 1960 Notes: Excerpted from the folio (translated from French), This double issue of Verve includes the drawings that Marc Chagall executed in 1958 and 1959 on biblical themes that he had not generally dealt with in his illustration for the Bible, engraved with etching and which were included in issue 33/34 of Verve. This album has 96 renderings in black and 24 color litbographies as well as the cover that were specially made for this album. It was completed printing on July 29, 1960 by Draeger Freres for black gravures and by Mourlot Freres for color lithography. About the Publication: Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), published as Verve Vol. X, No. 37-38 on July 29, 1960, represents a significant continuation and expansion of Chagall’s profound engagement with biblical imagery and spiritual narrative. Conceived and directed by the visionary publisher Teriade, the publication builds upon the earlier Verve issue devoted to Chagall’s Bible illustrations by presenting a new body of work executed in 1958 and 1959, exploring themes and episodes that had not been fully addressed in the initial series. Printed in Paris by Draeger Freres for black gravures and Mourlot Freres for color lithography, the edition demonstrates an exceptional level of technical refinement and artistic collaboration. The publication includes an extensive suite of ninety six black reproductions and twenty four color lithographs, as well as specially created cover imagery, reflecting Chagall’s continued innovation in translating sacred themes into graphic form. As part of the broader tradition of Verve, one of the most important artistic and literary publications of the twentieth century, this issue exemplifies the fusion of text, image, and craftsmanship at the highest level. Today, Verve Vol. X, No. 37-38 stands as a major achievement within Chagall’s graphic oeuvre, reaffirming his role as one of the foremost interpreters of biblical narrative in modern art. About the Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985) was a Belarus-born French painter, printmaker, and designer whose visionary imagination, radiant color, and deeply poetic symbolism made him one of the most beloved and influential artists of the 20th century. Rooted in the imagery of his Jewish heritage and the memories of his childhood in Vitebsk, Chagall’s art wove together themes of faith, love, folklore, and fantasy with a dreamlike modern sensibility. His unique style merging elements of Cubism, Fauvism, Expressionism, and Surrealism defied categorization, transforming ordinary scenes into lyrical meditations on memory and emotion. Influenced by Russian icon painting, medieval religious art, and the modern innovations of artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Georges Braque, Chagall developed a profoundly personal visual language filled with floating figures, vibrant animals, musicians, and lovers that symbolized the transcendent power of imagination and love. During his early years in Paris, he became an integral part of the Ecole de Paris circle, forming friendships with Amedeo Modigliani, Fernand Leger, and Sonia Delaunay, and his creative spirit resonated with that of his peers and successors Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, artists who sought to push the boundaries of perception, emotion, and form. Over a prolific career that spanned painting, printmaking, stained glass, ceramics, and stage design, Chagall brought an unparalleled poetic sensibility to modern art, infusing even the most abstract subjects with human warmth and spiritual depth. His works are held in the most prestigious museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Centre Pompidou, the Tate, and the Guggenheim, where they continue to inspire generations of artists and collectors. The highest price ever paid for a Marc Chagall artwork is approximately 28.5 million USD, achieved in 2017 at Sotheby’s New York for Les Amoureux (1928). Marc Chagall Ruth...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Red Roses In Red Glass Beaker 12.29.08
Red Roses In Red Glass Beaker 12.29.08

Red Roses In Red Glass Beaker 12.29.08

By Abbie Zabar

Located in New York, NY

Colored Pencil on Museum Board Signed and Dated; Impressed with artist's stamp lower right Archivally framed with black float mount and bleached maple surround.

Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Art

Materials

Board, Color Pencil

Ian Hornak, Forbidden Fruit, Circa 1963
Ian Hornak, Forbidden Fruit, Circa 1963

Ian Hornak, Forbidden Fruit, Circa 1963

By Ian Hornak

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite woodcut by Ian Hornak (1944–2002), titled Forbidden Fruit, was executed circa 1963 during the artist’s undergraduate studies. Created during the formative years of Hor...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Woodcut

County Mayo Beach
County Mayo Beach

County Mayo Beach

By Tom Irizarry Studio

Located in Booklyn, NY

This painting is one of the finest examples of Tom's painting style and materials. Color and paint burst across the canvas, imbued with movement of clouds, sun and water. From a distant shore, County Mayo...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Pigment, Canvas

Ian Hornak, The Sandpit #2, Circa 1963
Ian Hornak, The Sandpit #2, Circa 1963

Ian Hornak, The Sandpit #2, Circa 1963

By Ian Hornak

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite etching by Ian Hornak (1944–2002), titled The Sandpit #2, was executed circa 1963 during the artist’s undergraduate studies. Created during the formative years of Horn...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

GARDEN IN SNOW
GARDEN IN SNOW

GARDEN IN SNOW

By Edvard Munch

Located in Santa Monica, CA

EDVARD MUNCH (1863 – 1944) GARDEN IN SNOW, II 1913 (WO 467: Sch. 418) Woodcut, 13 ½” x 16 7/8” signed in pencil. Generally very good condition. Irregular sheet of simili-japan ...

Category

1910s Expressionist Art

Materials

Woodcut

Still life with jonquilles

Still life with jonquilles

By Bernard Buffet

Located in New York, NY

Any additional questions we suggest a phone conversation through 1st. Dibs . Bernard Buffet paintings sell between $100,000.00 for a small painting too several million dollars. This ...

Category

1990s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

La Princesse et le Bouffon
La Princesse et le Bouffon

La Princesse et le Bouffon

By Théo Tobiasse

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist: Theo Tobiasse (French/Israeli, 1927-2012) Title: La Princesse et le Bouffon Year: 1978 Medium: Color lithograph Edition: Numbered 60/175 in pencil Paper: Wove Image siz...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

She's Always Behind My Back -21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Love, Family
She's Always Behind My Back -21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Love, Family

She's Always Behind My Back -21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Love, Family

By Elijah Olanase

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

The painting is about the human relationship between brothers and sisters, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. How they fought, stood, and supported each other with love, shari...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Girls Walking State 3
Girls Walking State 3

Lester JohnsonGirls Walking State 3

$1,440Sale Price|20% Off

Girls Walking State 3

By Lester Johnson

Located in New York, NY

Lester Johnson Girls Walking State 3 etching 1986. Designated edition number 8 of 21 in pencil lower left recto. Signed in pencil "Lester Johnson" lower right recto.

Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint, Intaglio

Ian Hornak, Blighted Plum Tree in the Ravine, Circa 1963
Ian Hornak, Blighted Plum Tree in the Ravine, Circa 1963

Ian Hornak, Blighted Plum Tree in the Ravine, Circa 1963

By Ian Hornak

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite etching by Ian Hornak (1944–2002), titled Blighted Plum Tree in the Ravine, was executed circa 1963 during the artist’s undergraduate studies. Created during the forma...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

Snow Mountains - Acrylic Landscape Mountain Painting

Snow Mountains - Acrylic Landscape Mountain Painting

By Vian Borchert

Located in Boston, MA

Snow Mountains 8.0 x 10.0 x 0.5, 1.0 lbs Acrylic Hand signed by artist Artist's Commentary: "Landscape painting depicting snow mountains." About the Artist: Vian Borchert is an ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

"Heavenly Guitar",  35x29",  Acrylic on canvas
"Heavenly Guitar",  35x29",  Acrylic on canvas

"Heavenly Guitar", 35x29", Acrylic on canvas

By Kim Simmonds

Located in Southampton, NY

Sad news of the recent passing of this great artist, guitarist, Rock and Blues Legend and founding member of Savoy Brown. Kim was a long-time friend who will be missed by fans and a...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Israeli Judaica Rabbi Expressionist Gouachel Painting
Israeli Judaica Rabbi Expressionist Gouachel Painting

Israeli Judaica Rabbi Expressionist Gouachel Painting

By Adolf Adler

Located in Surfside, FL

size includes frame Adolf Adler 1917 - 1996 Adolf Adi Adler was born in Romania in 1917. Attended the Art College of Kluj Romania in 1950. (in Satu Mare, original home city of the Sa...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Raventos Piano and Scores original expressionist acrylic canvas painting
Raventos Piano and Scores original expressionist acrylic canvas painting

Raventos Piano and Scores original expressionist acrylic canvas painting

By Maria Asuncion Raventos

Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL

Piano and scores original expressionist acrylic canvas painting RAVENTÓS Mª Assumpció – (San Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona 1930). Raventos trained at the elite Sant Jordi School of Fine...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas

Emmanuel Mane-Katz, Beneath the Monastery Walls, 1966 (after)
Emmanuel Mane-Katz, Beneath the Monastery Walls, 1966 (after)

Emmanuel Mane-Katz, Beneath the Monastery Walls, 1966 (after)

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph after Emmanuel Mane-Katz (1894-1962), titled Sous les murs du monastere (Beneath the Monastery Walls), from the folio Mane-Katz, Douze Lithographies pour St...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Bloom - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern, Women, Floral
Bloom - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern, Women, Floral

Bloom - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern, Women, Floral

By Olaniyi Timothy

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 Ola...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Church in the Square
Church in the Square

Church in the Square

By Élisée Maclet

Located in Sheffield, MA

Élisée Maclet French, 1881-1962 Church in the Square Oil on board 18 ¼ by 24 in, w/ frame 26 ¼ by 32 in Signed lower left Born in Lihons-en-Santerre April 12, 1881, Elisée Maclet b...

Category

Early 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

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.