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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
Sunny Nectar for Hummingbirds
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I aimed to capture the fleeting beauty of nature's interactions. Using vibrant colors and dynamic brush strokes typical of expressionism and impressionism, I hi...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Spring
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this piece, I've captured the essence of rejuvenation. The vibrant strokes and vivid colors symbolize nature's awakening, weaving a tapestry of growth and vitality. With each bru...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

'Der Gartner' (The Gardener) — German Expressionism
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Karl Michel, 'Der Gartner' (The Gardener), woodcut, c. 1925. Signed, titled, and numbered '15/50' in pencil. Signed in the block, lower left and right. A fine, richly-inked impression on buff wove paper, with full margins (1 1/2 to 2 3/4 inches), in excellent condition. Matted to museum standards, unframed. Scarce. Image size 5 1/4 x 3 7/8 inches (133 x 98 mm); sheet size 10 x 7 3/4 inches (254 x 198 mm). ABOUT THE ARTIST Karl Michel (1889-1984) was a noted graphic designer and expressionist printmaker during Germany's pre-Nazi Weimar Republic (1919 - 1933). In 1920, his work was featured in the influential German graphic design magazine Das Plakat...
Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Woodcut

Self Portrait
Located in New York, NY
Lester Johnson Self Portrait 1969 drawn with ink, crayon, and spray enamel on paper. Measuring 14 by 11 inches, this drawing was recently professionally framed.
Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Enamel

Ben Alexander - Etching by Erich Heckel - 1927
Located in Roma, IT
Lithograph on laid paper realized by Heckel in 1927. Signed and dated in pencil lower right. Hand numbered 11/20 lower left. Provenance: Galerie Vayhinger, Radolfzell, Private Col...
Category

1740s Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

Railroad Men's Wives - American Scene Painting - Social Realism
Located in Miami, FL
American Scene Painting - Social Realism. The present work is a Depression Era account of working-class men and women. Philip Howard Francis Dixon Evergood (born Howard Blashki; 190...
Category

1930s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

My Brother - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Men, Colour Pattern
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

Crab, Plaice and Prawns
Located in New York, NY
A contemporary of David Hockney and Peter Blake, Colin Self is an important British printmaker whose innovative etching techniques and novel use of found materials have defined his d...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Art

Materials

Drypoint

Nemorum Domi, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A woodland home takes on a playful vibrancy through bold colors and simplified shapes. Layers of violet, crimson, and deep green underpainting heighten contrast...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Guy in Hat - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Acrylic Drip, Men
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected crater from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist A...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Portrait of Young Girl Gouache Painting by Max Moreau
By Max Moreau
Located in Atlanta, GA
1950s portrait, gouache on paper painting by Belgian artist Max Moreau (1902 - 1992). This is a finely detailed portrait of a lovely young girl looking like a good child from right a...
Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Peacock displaying in Magenta and Yellow Birds
Located in Miami, FL
The reality is that this is an eye-witness account of a male peacock displaying for the attention of a female peahen. It turns out that humans are equally...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Red on Red
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I drew inspiration from a surge of emotions and aimed to channel the vividness of life's passions. Utilizing acrylics, oil pastels, and colored pencils, I ble...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic, Satin Paper, Oil Pastel

Bloom
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Promise for transformation coming into full beauty, before we wilt and disappear. The unstoppable energy to radiate and glow, The urge to look over our shoulders, looking to be compared. Flaunting a flair, seeking attention everywhere. (Written by the Artist) 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 Osoba Omoayo George...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Polymer

Bloom
Bloom
$1,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Beyond the Pale, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Bold colors and expressive strokes define a small stream surrounded by woods. Strategically placed linear elements create a nearly abstract composition. Artist ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Truro Hill, Original, Landscape
Located in Deddington, GB
Truro Hills is an Original Painting by Eleanor Woolley. This painting depicts the lovely rolling hills of Truro, Devon. A beautiful sunset with it's stripes of lemon yellow, magenta ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Isabelle's Garden" Modern Expressionist Figurative
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
"Isabelle's Garden" is from Sandra Jones Campbell's recent Summer collection, a series that displays her unique vision of the world and is informed by her current social observation...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Collage, interior design graphics
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this artwork, I explored the juxtaposition of the vintage and modern, the real and the imagined. Using collage materials juxtaposed with delicate pencil and bold ink, I s...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Mixed Media, Cardboard, Handmade Paper, Felt Pen, Color Pencil, Paper, M...

Vanishing Point, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Deep blue tones envelop a blurred San Francisco cityscape, evoking a dreamlike memory of a fleeting moment. The triangular panel enhances the composition’s un...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Daybreak, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The first light of dawn bathes distant mountains in fiery oranges, contrasting with the cool blues and purples of the rugged cliffs below. Loose, sweeping brush...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Raventos Geometric Figures Golden Browns White
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
RAVENTÓS Mª Assumpció – (San Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona 1930). Raventos. geometric figures. browns . white. expressionist acrylic canvas painting. framed Raventos trained at the eli...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Lost is a Lovely Place to Find Yourself
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
I realized nobody is coming to save you unless you save yourself! Light at the end of the tunnel awaits only those who dare to try again each time they fail 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 IDORENYIN UMANA...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Lion
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Lion" depicts the majestic presence and serene strength of the lion, a symbol of power and dignity. An expressive palette and textural brushstrokes...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Corrupt Petliura Ukraine Russian Propaganda Poster
Located in Paonia, CO
Vintage Soviet Government propaganda lithographic poster titled with Ukrainian text that reads “Corrupt Petliura has sold Ukraine to the Polish landowners. Landowners burned and plundered Ukraine. Death to landowners and Petlyurovites.” Originally issued April 1920 following the Treaty of Warsaw (also the Polish-Ukrainian Agreement). The agreement was a military-economical alliance between the Second Polish Republic, represented by Jozef Pilsudski, and the Ukrainian People’s Republic, represented by Symon Petliura, against Bolshevik Russia. The artwork features Jozef Pilsudski running away with a sack of goods. Good condition. Artist unknown. The Bolshevik Era (1917-1921) was a life and death struggle for the Bolsheviks and their ideology. The propaganda poster...
Category

Early 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Large French Expressionist Oil Painting Nude Bathers in Woodland
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: French School, mid 20th century Title: Nude Bathers Medium: oil painting on canvas, unframed Size: painting: 19.75 x 24 inches Provenance: France Condi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Sun. Sea. Beach.
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I immerse the viewer in the depths of a summer atmosphere, where the sea's dynamic caress and the vibrant warmth of sunlight meet. The textures and colors in oil empha...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Meneses 15 Mallorca Coast original watercolor paper expressionist painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
coast original watercolor paper expressionist painting. This Catalan painter, settled for years in Mallorca, offers a series of landscapes in which the natural is treated in the imp...
Category

1990s Expressionist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Gray fluffy
Located in Zofingen, AG
In the creation of this artwork, I poured my soul into capturing the essence of serenity and mystery. As an artist, I sought to blend the realms of figurative grace and impressionist...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

POMERAT French pastel 1920s 20th Expressionnist A cabaret in Marseille 1920
Located in PARIS, FR
Georges Pomerat Le Pouzin (Ardèche), 1870 - Arles, 1948 Pastel Signed lower right "G. Pomerat" 53 x 49 cm (65 x 60 cm with frame) Excellent condition This is an interresting interior of a cabaret in Marseille in the 1920s. Several "Montmartois" artistic cabarets settled in Marseille in the 1920s such as le Pupu's, le Chat rieur, La Lune rousse...
Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Pastel

"Le Bal Masque" Giuseppe Verdi Opera (Variant)
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Le Bal Masque" Giuseppe Verdi Opera, (Variant) 1967 is an original color lithograph on Japan paper by renown Austrian expressionist artist Oskar Kokoschka, 1886-...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Untitled Abstraction (Figures in Red)
By Albert Urban
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Albert Urban, Untitled Abstraction (Figures in Red), color serigraph, 1944. Signed and dated in blue ink. A fine, painterly impression, with fresh, rich colors, on cream wove paper;...
Category

1940s Expressionist Art

Materials

Screen

Bouquet of fluttering butterfly
Located in Zofingen, AG
Bouquet of fluttering butterfly These Oxalis houseplants flutter their wings like butterflies. A flower has grown in my house. In this painting, I sought to capture the ephemeral be...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

'Ex Libris Dr. Witropp' — German Expressionism
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Karl Michel, 'Ex Libris Dr. Witropp - Homunculus und Galatee', etching, 1923, edition not stated. Signed, dated, and numbered 'Op. 140' (the artist's inventory number) in pencil. Si...
Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

Moonlight night
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I've sought to capture the tranquil yet powerful essence of a serene night. The oil paints allowed me to layer emotions with every stroke, imbuing the scene with a sen...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Moonlight night
Moonlight night
$477 Sale Price
20% Off
The Eiffel Tower and the highway, Tokyo
Located in OPOLE, PL
Bernard Buffet (1928-1999) - The Eiffel Tower and the highway, Tokyo Lithograph from 1981. Artsit's edition. On Arches paper. Dimensions of work: 53.5 x 39 cm. Hand signed. The...
Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Strawberries
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I attempted to capture the vivid textures and luminous vibrancy of strawberries. Using a blend of expressionism and impressionism, I focused on the interplay of...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Fouquier-Tinville
Located in OPOLE, PL
Bernard Buffet (1928-1999) - Fouquier-Tinville Lithograph from 1977. The edition of 103/150. On Arches paper with watermark. Dimensions of work: 76 x 56 cm. Hand signed. The wor...
Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Flowers
Located in Genève, GE
Work on wood Salmon wood frame Dimensions with frame : 56 x 41 x 1.7 cm This work of art, dominated by swirls of vibrant, bold colors, embodies a feeling...
Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Etching with Hand Watercolor Painting Jules Pascin Pencil Signed
Located in Surfside, FL
Genre: German Expressionist Subject: Figures Medium: etching, watercolor paint Surface: Paper This is hand signed lower right.. there does not seem to be an edition size although th...
Category

Early 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Etching

French Modernist Large Floral Oil Painting Expressionist Flowers in Vase
Located in Surfside, FL
Frae measures 47 X 27 Image is 39 X 19. Henri Maurice D'Anty, listed French artist,Henry d'Anty 1910-1998 Born 1910 in Belleville France. Died in December 4 1998. Educated at the Aca...
Category

20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Simple Times - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Plants, Women
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 Josue M Pierre ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Strawberries 30X21
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've endeavored to capture the lush vibrancy of strawberries using bold, expressive strokes that echo the chiaroscuro techniques of realism yet blend the vivid, atm...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Copons original acrylic
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Original work of the Spanish artist Joan COPONS. -Barcelona-jardin. original acrylic painting
Category

1990s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Fold Into Place - Abstracted Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Boston, MA
Fold Into Place 23.5 x 19.5 x 0.75, 5.0 lbs Oil paint Hand signed by artist Artist's Commentary: "Light on water in Stuttgart, Germany, the first year of a new relationship and s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Hamburg, Mild Atmosphere - German Expressionism Hamburg Harbour Maritime Scene
Located in London, GB
This original drypoint is hand signed and dated in pencil by the artist "Emil Nolde" at the lower right margin. It is one of at least 18 impressions printed on Van Gelder Zonen pape...
Category

1910s Expressionist Art

Materials

Drypoint

Paris : Louvre Museum with Orange Scratch (Fire) - Original etching
Located in Paris, IDF
Arnulf Rainer (1929) Paris : Louvre Museum with Orange Scratch (Fire) Original etching On vellum 40 x 50 cm (c. 16 x 20 in) Authenticated with the blind stamp of the editor Chalcogr...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

Who Knows One (Passover), Large Tapestry Rug by Shlomo Katz
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: after Shlomo Katz, Polish/Israeli (1937 - 1992) Title: Who Knows One (Passover) Year: 2000 Medium: Woolen Carpet Tapestry, signature in the cache Size: 120 x 95 in. (304.8 x ...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Art

Materials

Tapestry, Wool

Sunny terrace
Located in Zofingen, AG
I poured my soul into this piece, capturing the warmth of the sun and the serene beauty of nature. My brushstrokes evoke a sense of peace and invite the viewer to step into a tranqui...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

For Lisa
Located in Fairlawn, OH
For Lisa Color lithograph, 1984 Signed in pencil lower left (see photo) Numbered lower right corner Published to benefit the Los Angeles Children's Museum Printed by Brand X Editions...
Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Seated Woman (1958) by Chana Orloff (1888–1968)
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Chana Orloff (1888–1968) Seated Woman, 1958 Bronze, Height: 55 cm Signed, dated, and numbered 3/8 Stamped with foundry mark Susse Fondeur, Paris A masterful example of Chana Orloff’...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Bronze

Bridal bouquet
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this artwork, I sought to capture the exhilarating blend of freedom and movement. The depiction of the woman on the motorcycle, her dress flowing and surrounded by an ene...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

"Serena's A Real Charmer" Modern Expressionist Figurative
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
"Lemonade Afternoon" is from Sandra Jones Campbell's recent Summer collection, a series that displays her unique vision of the world and is informed by her current social observatio...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

German Expressionist Hand Carved Colored Original Wood Pane Art Israeli Bezalel
Located in Surfside, FL
This is original hand carved wood carving used to produce a woodcut print. Hand colored with painting. signed woodblock (unique piece, not a print) by Jacob Steinhardt 1887-1968 "Reuben Offering Food and Drink to Joseph" Hand carved and painted surface, painted in relief. Signed LR, dated LL. In thin wood painted frame, woodcut panel approx. 1/2" thick, raised on frame. panel within gold painted wood liner 16"H x 12.5 framed 22.5 x 18.75 Judaica biblical scene. Steinhardt, Jakob, Painter and Woodcut Artist. b. 1887, Yaacov Steinhardt was born in the then remote, largely Polish town of Zerkow in the Posen District of Germany. (poland/german) Immigrated 1933. Studies: 1906 School of Art, 1906 Studied in Berlin Arts and Crafts School. Berlin; 1907 painting...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Woodcut

Computer City
By Bruno Zupan
Located in Paonia, CO
Computer City is a frenzy of colors and action. This is a city scene with stop lights, parking signs, directional signs, stop signs, digital time clock, buildings, streets and a mass...
Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Screen

Beautiful White Winter
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I was inspired by the serene beauty of winter. With every stroke of my oil paints, I've captured the enchanting dance of light as it weaves through the froste...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Dauntless 3 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Woman, Blue Pattern
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

Miranda
Located in Westport, CT
This beautiful blue painting is by René Romero Schuler. Her expressionistic paintings depict delicate female figures that she paints using a dry-brushed, minimalist hand, leaving her...
Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Her Shattered Heart - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
A soul that finds happiness after a broken heart and she decides to be single for the rest of her life. She wanted to travel, live abroad, gain new experiences and didn’t want to sta...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Snow-Covered Underwood by Ernest Voegeli - Oil on Canvas 46x55 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Ernest Voegeli is an artist who has found his path through a combination of solid technique and a clear, insightful approach to color, form, and composition. While his work is primar...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Home Longing (Life Within) -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Nature, Blue
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Home Longing reflects the universal yearning for connection and belonging. The painting combines a surreal landscape with a figurative image, symbolizing the intersection of identity...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, 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.

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