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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
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

1970’s Huge French Expressionist Green Landscape Avenue of Trees, signed oil
1970’s Huge French Expressionist Green Landscape Avenue of Trees, signed oil

1970’s Huge French Expressionist Green Landscape Avenue of Trees, signed oil

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

The Avenue of Trees French Expressionist School, signed front and back Dated 1974 oil on canvas, framed framed: 37 x 44 inches canvas: 32 x 39 inches private collection, France the p...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"La Promenade" original etching

"La Promenade" original etching

By Edgar Chahine

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: original etching and drypoint. A rich, dark impression on laid paper, printed in 1900 and published in Paris for the Revue de l'art ancien et moderne. Plate size: 4 1/2 x 8 5...

Category

Early 1900s Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

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

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

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

Tequila Gist 2 -21st Century, Contemporary, Expressionist, Modern, Mental Health
Tequila Gist 2 -21st Century, Contemporary, Expressionist, Modern, Mental Health

Tequila Gist 2 -21st Century, Contemporary, Expressionist, Modern, Mental Health

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 (Issued by the Gallery) About ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Acrylic

Dreams of Yesterday, Original Painting
Dreams of Yesterday, Original Painting

Dreams of Yesterday, Original Painting

By Diana Elena Chelaru

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A woman rests gently against a swirling current that resembles both wind and water, as if she is swinging between past and present. Soft touches of yellow and o...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

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

Urban Sketch
Urban Sketch

Urban Sketch

Located in Zofingen, AG

This captivating artwork presents an abstract urban landscape, teeming with vibrant energy and movement. Rendered in a palette of muted blues, reds, and pinks, the swirling colors su...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

1950's French Modernist / Cubist Painting Signed, French Landscape
1950's French Modernist / Cubist Painting Signed, French Landscape

1950's French Modernist / Cubist Painting Signed, French Landscape

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Artist/ School: Title: French Roof Tops Medium: oil painting on board, unframed Measures: board: 8.75 x 6.25 inches Provenance: private collection, France Condition: The paintin...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Parachute Jump, Shooting Rays, Coney Island
Parachute Jump, Shooting Rays, Coney Island

Parachute Jump, Shooting Rays, Coney Island

By Janet Morgan

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Pastel on black paper. Ms. Morgan says: When I finally started riding the subway again during Covid isolation - going down to the ocean was a real treat. The collection of fisherma...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Pastel, Archival Paper

Young Girl with Baby Oil Painting 1970s Spanish Impressionist Portrait Emotional
Young Girl with Baby Oil Painting 1970s Spanish Impressionist Portrait Emotional

Young Girl with Baby Oil Painting 1970s Spanish Impressionist Portrait Emotional

By Amadeo Freixas Vivo

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Young Girl with Baby Oil Painting 1970s Spanish Impressionist Portrait Emotional Figurative Artwork Medium: Oil on board Period: 1970–1979 Date: circa 1975 Condition: Good condition consistent with age Dimensions: Height: 46 cm (18.12 in) Width: 38 cm (14.97 in) Frame: Unframed Origin: Spain A tender and emotionally engaging oil painting depicting a young girl holding a baby, executed in Spain circa 1975. Rather than a traditional maternal scene, the composition captures a more unusual and compelling dynamic: a child caring for another child. This subtle shift introduces a layer of emotional complexity, where innocence and responsibility coexist. The girl’s expressive gaze becomes the central anchor of the composition, conveying a quiet intensity that draws the viewer in. The artist employs loose yet confident brushwork, with an earthy palette enriched by soft pink tones that enhance the warmth of the scene. This type of subject—intimate, psychological, and slightly unconventional—offers collectors something beyond decorative appeal: a narrative moment suspended in time. Its small scale further increases its charm and versatility, making it ideal for refined interiors or curated gallery walls. A distinctive example of late 20th-century Spanish figurative impressionism, with strong emotional resonance. Amadeo Freixas Vivo (1912–2004) was a Spanish painter known for his figurative and impressionist works. Throughout his career, he developed a personal style focused on intimate scenes and expressive portraiture, often exploring themes of everyday life and human emotion. girl with baby painting, figurative oil painting, spanish painting 1970s, impressionist portrait, child portrait painting...

Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Board, Oil

Salto Sobre La Cabeza
Salto Sobre La Cabeza

Salto Sobre La Cabeza

By Karel Appel

Located in Austin, TX

Artist: Karel Appel Title: Salto Sobre La Cabeza Year: 1988 Medium: Etching with aquatint Signed and dated '88, numbered 5/60 in pencil Dimensions: 19.25" x 4.5" Provenance: Gallery ...

Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Peace and Tranquility 2
Peace and Tranquility 2

Peace and Tranquility 2

By Joshua Salami

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. Abou...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, 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

Black is Beautiful
Black is Beautiful

Black is Beautiful

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

The central theme of "Black is Beautiful" revolves around the notion that true beauty transcends physical appearances and that baldness, especially in the context of African heritage...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, 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

"Brücke" original lithograph

"Brücke" original lithograph

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: original lithograph. Printed on laid paper by Anstalt Eigner in 1925 for the Ganymed portfolio "Das funfte Jahrbuch der Marees Gesellschaft" and published in Munich by Marees...

Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Oil Landscape of Hawaiian Forest Interior
Oil Landscape of Hawaiian Forest Interior

Oil Landscape of Hawaiian Forest Interior

Located in Fredericksburg, VA

This painting was bought from the artist's estate in Woodberry, CT and is signed verso. Eugene Savage studied at the Chicago Art Institute, the American Academy in Rome, and received his Masters of Art at Yale University. He taught at Yale for almost 30 years in Art and Architecture. Eugene Savage had many latin influences such as Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco. In the 1940s he spent his time painting Hawaiian murals of people and of more abstract Hawaiian...

Category

Mid-19th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"White dream"
"White dream"

"White dream"

Located in Edinburgh, GB

As a child, I really loved dogs. I liked that I could play with them, stroke them, hug them.. I also loved lying on the grass and watching the birds fly. But I was very sorry that I ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Comets" original lithograph

"Comets" original lithograph

By Wassily Kandinsky

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: original lithograph. Printed in 1938 and published in Paris by Teriade for the art revue Verve (volume 1, number 2). Kandinsky was invited to contribute an original compositi...

Category

1930s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Regarding the Sky, Oil Painting
Regarding the Sky, Oil Painting

Regarding the Sky, Oil Painting

By Ronda Waiksnis

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
This painting captures a tranquil scene where a body of water reflects the sky. The muted, distant horizon suggests an endless expanse, inviting contemplation...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Bories-en-Provence Village Near Gordes, Large Oil on Canvas
Bories-en-Provence Village Near Gordes, Large Oil on Canvas

Bories-en-Provence Village Near Gordes, Large Oil on Canvas

Located in Saint Amans des cots, FR

Oil on canvas by Paul Clement (1906-), France, 1967. Bories-en-Provence near Gordes. Measurements : with frame: 106x87 cm - 41.7x34.25 inches, without frame: 100x81 cm - 39.4x31.9 in...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sunflowers
Sunflowers

Sunflowers

Located in Zofingen, AG

"In my creation, I pour my soul into the vibrant dance of sunflowers under an evocative sky. Each stroke is a symphony of colors, blending impressionistic warmth with a touch of real...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Linen, Oil

Up Up and Away With Fido -21st Century, Expressionist Modern, Child, Balloon
Up Up and Away With Fido -21st Century, Expressionist Modern, Child, Balloon

Up Up and Away With Fido -21st Century, Expressionist Modern, Child, Balloon

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 (Issued by the Gal...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Sunflowers field 3D (18X24)
Sunflowers field 3D (18X24)

Sunflowers field 3D (18X24)

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this painting, I sought to capture the vibrant essence of life, channeling my emotions into each stroke. The bold sunflowers stand as symbols of joy and exuberance, their bright f...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

French Expressionist Provence Luberon Poppy Field Oil Painting Ambrogiani Style
French Expressionist Provence Luberon Poppy Field Oil Painting Ambrogiani Style

French Expressionist Provence Luberon Poppy Field Oil Painting Ambrogiani Style

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Title French Expressionist Provence Luberon Poppy Field Oil Painting Ambrogiani Style Key Details Artist: French School, mid 20th century Subject: Provençal landscape, believed to de...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

African Radiant: Celebration of Beauty and Joy
African Radiant: Celebration of Beauty and Joy

African Radiant: Celebration of Beauty and Joy

By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

The title of the painting, "African Radiant," captures the essence of the woman's beauty and spirit. She exudes a sense of joy and inner radiance that is infectious, and her confident gaze and proud stance suggest a deep sense of pride in her heritage and culture. Overall, "African Radiant: Celebration of Beauty and Joy" is a powerful celebration of the beauty and resilience of black African women. It invites viewers to revel in the richness and diversity of African culture and appreciate the strength and joy inherent in the African spirit. 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 Bakare Babatunde...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Fabric, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Four Original Signed Etchings by Louis Jou
Four Original Signed Etchings by Louis Jou

Four Original Signed Etchings by Louis Jou

By Louis Jou

Located in Paonia, CO

Spanish painter, engraver, master typographer and editor Louis Jou ( 1882 – 1968 ) became a naturalized French citizen and was known as an artist of the French School . He set up his own publishing house in Paris and gained a reputation as one of the greatest typographers of the 19th century. His original etchings and wood engravings appeared in books authored by Victor Hugo, Andre Gide, Cervantes and many more. Jou’s etchings also appeared in the Gazette des Beaux Arts published in Paris. Beginning in 1859 until it’s final year in 1930 the Gazette became known for it’s role in the revival of etching as a creative process as vital as painting and sculpture. The Gazette regularly commissioned the greatest etchers of the time including such artist’s such as Whistler, Goya, Max Lieberman...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

Chromatic Nomad, Oil Painting
Chromatic Nomad, Oil Painting

Chromatic Nomad, Oil Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A solitary rider stands against a vibrant, textile-inspired backdrop of bold geometric forms and saturated color. Rendered with raw, gestural lines, the figure ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Tranquil Day, Oil Painting
Tranquil Day, Oil Painting

Tranquil Day, Oil Painting

By George Peebles

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Vibrant autumn trees paint a distant forest in shades of red, orange, and yellow. Soft layers of beige and blue land stretches across the foreground. A pale sky...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

View from a Window, Original Painting
View from a Window, Original Painting

View from a Window, Original Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Three chairs occupy a sunlit room, with one propped in front of a window that opens onto a lush garden. Blue curtains, one with playful zigzag edges, hang again...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

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

Autumn Color’s in Misty Land, Oil Painting
Autumn Color’s in Misty Land, Oil Painting

Autumn Color’s in Misty Land, Oil Painting

By George Peebles

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A stand of trees stretches across a landscape in warm, autumnal shades. Vertical strokes suggest tall trunks rising through the orange, yellow, and green foliag...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Winter Solstice, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Winter Solstice, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Winter Solstice, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By Karin Goeppert

Located in Yardley, PA

Winter Solstice is a large painting - ready to hang with a hook attached to the back of the canvas - of my take of winter's beauty. Warm and cool colors playing off each other. 80 x ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Purity
Purity

Purity

By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

"Purity" is a mesmerizing artwork that encapsulates the strength, grace, and inherent beauty of a black African woman. Through her direct gaze, the white dove, and the vibrant colors, the painting invites contemplation about the purity of the human spirit, the harmonious connection between humanity and nature, and the celebration of diversity and individuality. 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 Bakare Babatunde...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary 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.