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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 Opera, from Derriere le miroir, 1954
Marc Chagall, The Opera, from Derriere le miroir, 1954

Marc Chagall, The Opera, from Derriere le miroir, 1954

By Marc Chagall

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled L'Opera (The Opera), from the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 67–68, originates from the 1954 edition published by Maeght ...

Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Marc Chagall, Couple Before the Tree, from Chagall Lithographer I, 1960
Marc Chagall, Couple Before the Tree, from Chagall Lithographer I, 1960

Marc Chagall, Couple Before the Tree, from Chagall Lithographer I, 1960

By Marc Chagall

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Couple devant l’arbre (Couple Before the Tree), from Chagall Lithographe I (Chagall Lithographer I), originates from the October 1960 issue published by Andre Sauret, Editeur, Monte-Carlo, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1960. This visionary composition reflects Chagall’s mastery of the lithographic medium, embodying his poetic imagination through fluid line, expressive form, and a luminous sense of movement. The work conveys the artist’s unique ability to merge memory, symbolism, and emotion into a cohesive visual language, transforming even the simplest subject into a deeply evocative and dreamlike image. Infused with lyricism and spiritual resonance, the composition exemplifies Chagall’s enduring exploration of identity, mythology, and the transcendent power of art. The piece forms part of Chagall Lithographe I, a landmark publication that documents and celebrates the artist’s achievements in lithography, offering insight into one of the most significant aspects of his graphic oeuvre. Executed as a lithograph on velin paper, this work measures 12.5 x 9.625 inches (31.75 x 24.45 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: Couple devant l’arbre (Couple Before the Tree), from Chagall Lithographe I (Chagall Lithographer I), October 1960 Medium: Lithograph on velin paper Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.625 inches (31.75 x 24.45 cm) Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1960 Publisher: Andre Sauret, Editeur, Monte-Carlo Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Catalogue raisonne references: Chagall, Marc, et al. Chagall Lithographe. Andre Sauret, 1960-1986, illustration 281-292. Cramer, Patrick, and Meret Meyer. Marc Chagall: Catalogue Raisonne des Livres Illustres. P. Cramer ed., 1995, illustration 43. Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From Chagall Lithographe I (Chagall Lithographer I), published by Andre Sauret, Editeur, Monte-Carlo, 1960 Notes: Excerpted from the album (translated from French), This work, which was designed and compiled by Fernand Mourlot and Andre Sauret, was finished in October 1960. The reproductions were printed on the presses of Draeger Freres, and the original lithographs on the presses of Mourlot Freres. The Imprimerie Nationale de France is responsible for the typography. Of this work it was shot, apart, CL examples on Grand Velin d'Arches, numbered to the press from I to CL, signed by the artist and the publisher, including, in addition, two original lithographs specially made for this separate draw. About the Publication: Chagall Lithographe I (Chagall Lithographer I), published in October 1960 by Andre Sauret in Monte-Carlo and printed by Mourlot Freres, represents a foundational survey of Marc Chagall’s lithographic production. Conceived in close collaboration with master printer Fernand Mourlot, the publication serves as both a catalogue and a celebration of the artist’s exploration of lithography from the late 1940s through the 1950s. It documents the technical and artistic evolution of Chagall’s printmaking, highlighting the innovative approaches he developed in partnership with the Mourlot atelier, whose expertise allowed for the translation of his painterly vision into the lithographic medium with extraordinary fidelity. The publication includes numerous reproductions alongside original lithographs, offering a comprehensive overview of themes central to Chagall’s work, including biblical narratives, folklore, and personal symbolism. Widely regarded as an essential reference in the study of Chagall’s graphic oeuvre, Chagall Lithographe I stands as a testament to the enduring collaboration between artist and printer, and to the importance of lithography within the broader trajectory of 20th century 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, like Chagall, 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 Couple...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Estate No. 082050

Estate No. 082050

By Otto Neumann

Located in New Orleans, LA

Otto Neumann (1895-1975) was a German Expressionist painter and printmaker. His monotypes evolved from sharp, angular, black and whites to late abstract prints in a variety of colors. Neumann lived through revolutionary changes in the art world of prewar and postwar Germany. He was a prolific artist in Germany during a time of the country’s unprecedented academic and intellectual growth. His early work shows the influence of both French masters like Cezanne and the contemporary style that was then being developed by German Expressionists like Kirchner. A master printmaker, Neumann was also inspired by the works of Albrecht Durer, whose allegorical subject-matter and unmatched drawing technique Neumann would emulate throughout his career. A lifetime preoccupation with the human figure informs his work, with frieze-like human figures recalling ancient Greek art...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Monotype

Paysage en campagne

Paysage en campagne

Located in Atlanta, GA

Born August 4, 1945 in Chambéry. Apprenticeship in 1984 at the Etampes school founded and run by the painter Philipe Lejeune. -Price "Finez Planard" awarded by the Taylor Foundation...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Versailles (France) original lithograph vintage SNCF travel poster
Versailles (France) original lithograph vintage SNCF travel poster

Versailles (France) original lithograph vintage SNCF travel poster

By Maurice Milliere

Located in Spokane, WA

Original Versailles, France vintage lithograph French travel poster. Printed by the French National Railroad, SNCF in the 1938's. Printer: Goossens. A poster fit for a king since he once resided here at Versailles. Transform your living space with the elegance and grandeur of the Versailles Original Poster. This exquisite piece captures the breathtaking beauty of the iconic Palace of Versailles, showcasing its majestic fountains and lush gardens. The vibrant colors and intricate details bring to life the opulence and historical significance of one of the world's most renowned landmarks. The grand fountains had a chariot and horses...

Category

1930s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Vintage Mid Century Modern Original Still Life Oil Painting - Teapot and Fruits
Vintage Mid Century Modern Original Still Life Oil Painting - Teapot and Fruits

Vintage Mid Century Modern Original Still Life Oil Painting - Teapot and Fruits

Located in Bristol, GB

TEAPOT AND FRUITS Size: 39 x 49 cm (including frame) Oil on board A charming mid-century still life painting that celebrates the beauty of everyday objects through colour and form, ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Marc Chagall, Isaiah, from Drawings for the Bible, 1960
Marc Chagall, Isaiah, from Drawings for the Bible, 1960

Marc Chagall, Isaiah, from Drawings for the Bible, 1960

By Marc Chagall

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Isaie (Isaiah), from Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), Verve: Revue Artistique et Litteraire...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

"La soupe" original etching

"La soupe" original etching

By Max Liebermann

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: original etching. This original Max Liebermann etching was published in Paris in 1901 by Gazette des Beaux-Arts (reference number Sanchez & Seydoux 1901-13). A good impre...

Category

Early 1900s Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

Oil Painting Titled: Bacall  36 x 36
Oil Painting Titled: Bacall  36 x 36

Oil Painting Titled: Bacall 36 x 36

By Christina Major

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Custom framed Christina Major was born in Concord, New Hampshire in 1982. She has lived all over the world including Hawaii, France, New York and more currently Florida. Christina...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Fleet Moment
Fleet Moment

Fleet Moment

By Doris Caesar

Located in Greenwich, CT

Featured in the Doris Caesar catalog by Martin H. Bush, page 110.

Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Bronze

Lofoton Morning, Norway
Lofoton Morning, Norway

Lofoton Morning, Norway

By Tom Irizarry Studio

Located in Booklyn, NY

Verified original work by Tom irizarry. Handmade oil paint made by artist, pigments on canvas, 16 x 20 inches. Morning view of Lofoton mountain range, Norway. 2024. 16 x 20 inches, o...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Pigment

Marina Cyclists, Oil Painting
Marina Cyclists, Oil Painting

Marina Cyclists, Oil Painting

By James Hartman

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Artist James Hartman captures the meeting point of the Berkeley Marina and San Francisco Bay in this expressive California landscape. A favorite Bay Area spot t...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Les Deux Soeurs

Les Deux Soeurs

By François LEGRAND

Located in Atlanta, GA

Born in 1951, François Legrand was introduced to painting as a teenager by Philippe Lejeune in Etampes. In 1973, he moved to Loiret. From 1974 to 197...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Cow Boy -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral, Mixed Media
Cow Boy -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral, Mixed Media

Cow Boy -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral, Mixed Media

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 Gob...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Marc Chagall, The Village, from Derriere le miroir, 1977
Marc Chagall, The Village, from Derriere le miroir, 1977

Marc Chagall, The Village, from Derriere le miroir, 1977

By Marc Chagall

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Le village (The Village), from the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 225, originates from the 1977 edition published by Maeg...

Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

"Taos Sketch" - Expressionist Landscape and Female Figures, Oil Painting
"Taos Sketch" - Expressionist Landscape and Female Figures, Oil Painting

"Taos Sketch" - Expressionist Landscape and Female Figures, Oil Painting

By John Franklin

Located in Denver, CO

John Franklin was born on Christmas day, 1925 in North Platte, Nebraska. This piece depicts three women from Taos, New Mexico standing in content poses, holding jars and wearing int...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Eternal Payment in Fertile Land 1 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Apple
Eternal Payment in Fertile Land 1 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Apple

Eternal Payment in Fertile Land 1 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Apple

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

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

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Pencil

Delicate wildflowers"diptych, landscape by Volskaya Liliya.
Delicate wildflowers"diptych, landscape by Volskaya Liliya.

Delicate wildflowers"diptych, landscape by Volskaya Liliya.

Located in Zofingen, AG

"Delicate wildflowers"diptych, landscape by Volskaya. Each of my paintings is not just canvas and paints. It is the energy that lives, breathes and interacts with a person. Before I ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Coming Storm
The Coming Storm

The Coming Storm

Located in Sheffield, MA

Nicolas Alexandrovitch Tarkhoff Russian, 1871-1930 The Coming Storm Oil on board 12 ¾ by 19 in, w/ frame 19 ¼ by 25 ½ in Signed lower right Was a Russian-born Impressionist. Born in Moscow on January 20, 1871 to a merchant family he studied painting and drawing. Tarkhoff was known as the “Moscow Parisian,” because he spent so much of his life in France -- from 1898 until his death in 1930. A member of the World of Art and the Union of Russian Artists, Tarkhoff began drawing at the age of twenty-four. After an unsuccessful attempt to enroll at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, he studied under Konstantin Korovin. At the age of twenty-eight, Tarkhoff made his first visit to Paris, where he studied drawing and began actively working and exhibiting. He moved there permanently in 1899. In 1906, he held a one-man show at the gallery of Ambroise Vollard, the famous Parisian art dealer who championed all the leading French Impressionists. Sergei Makovsky, Alexander Benois...

Category

Early 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Purification in the Time of Jezebel -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Men
Purification in the Time of Jezebel -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Men

Purification in the Time of Jezebel -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Men

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

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

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Pencil

Golden Time. Large abstract Landscape Oil Painting on Italian canvas.
Golden Time. Large abstract Landscape Oil Painting on Italian canvas.

Golden Time. Large abstract Landscape Oil Painting on Italian canvas.

Located in Zofingen, AG

Experience the serene beauty of autumn with "Golden Time," a large abstract landscape oil painting. The artist masterfully blends soft impressionistic techniques with realistic detai...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sunny day. 1994, oil on canvas and cardboard, 50x70 cm
Sunny day. 1994, oil on canvas and cardboard, 50x70 cm

Sunny day. 1994, oil on canvas and cardboard, 50x70 cm

Located in Riga, LV

Sunny day. 1994, oil on canvas and cardboard, 50x70 cm Bright, colorful landscape with trees Valdis Bush (1924-2014) studied at the Art academy of Latvia (1945 – 1950), his favorit...

Category

1990s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

The Painter's Doctor
The Painter's Doctor

The Painter's Doctor

By Lucian Freud

Located in Toronto, Ontario

Lucian Freud (1922-2011) was a seminal figure in 20th-century British art, celebrated for his raw and psychologically charged exploration of the human form. With his distinctive fi...

Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

Afro Crown 2 - 21st Century, Expressionist, Figurative Portrait, Human Hair
Afro Crown 2 - 21st Century, Expressionist, Figurative Portrait, Human Hair

Afro Crown 2 - 21st Century, Expressionist, Figurative Portrait, Human Hair

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

Four Winds from One Cent Life
Four Winds from One Cent Life

Four Winds from One Cent Life

By Robert Indiana

Located in Austin, TX

Artist: Robert Indiana Title: Four Winds from One Cent Life Year: 1964 Medium: 2 page lithograph, as printed from One Cent Life As printed with Walasse Ting poem, from the One Cent ...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

House with Greenhouse, Original Painting
House with Greenhouse, Original Painting

House with Greenhouse, Original Painting

By Robert Hofherr

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A small house sits surrounded by snow, framed by tall trees stretching across the sky. The structure's pale walls and grey roof catch the winter light. Rather t...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Grey Colonial, Original Painting
Grey Colonial, Original Painting

Grey Colonial, Original Painting

By Robert Hofherr

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The morning sun bathes a northeastern colonial house in golden light. Medium grey siding balances with rich gold highlights, while the house contrasts with the ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Snowy Rooflines, Original Painting
Snowy Rooflines, Original Painting

Snowy Rooflines, Original Painting

By Robert Hofherr

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Tall trees stand in the foreground, their trunks and branches cutting across the view of a suburban house behind them. Artist Robert Hofherr reinterprets this u...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Melting Snow, Original Painting
Melting Snow, Original Painting

Melting Snow, Original Painting

By Robert Hofherr

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Tall trees frame a snowy yard, their bare branches cutting across a pale sky. A farmhouse sits to the right, while another rests farther back on the left. Cool ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Crucifixion, 20th Century Figural Expressionist Artist
Crucifixion, 20th Century Figural Expressionist Artist

Crucifixion, 20th Century Figural Expressionist Artist

By Robert Carroll

Located in Beachwood, OH

Robert Carroll (American, 1934-2016) Crucifixion Oil on paper Signed lower right 19.5 x 13.5 inches 25.25 x 19.5 inches, framed Robert Carroll was an American artist born in 1934. ...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

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

Hydrangeas and Rose Hips
Hydrangeas and Rose Hips

Hydrangeas and Rose Hips

By Rachael Dalzell

Located in Coltishall, GB

Hydrangeas and Rose Hips is a vibrant explosion of colour and form, skillfully blending organic and abstract elements, petals and leaves intertwine in a lively dance. Dalzells precis...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood, 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.