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.
Monstera 6, Vibrant Abstract Expressionist Foliage Original Mixed Media Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
In the realm of vibrant expressions, Italian artist Giuseppe Beddru masterfully brings to life abstracted flora in a spectacular fusion of color and form. The canvas dances with an o...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Mint tea
Located in Zofingen, AG
Mint tea. A sprig of mint, evening tea, peace and solitude. This painting was inspired by the flickering evening lights of the city. Which dissolved in the serene bliss of the sea an...
Canvas, Oil
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Gazing Through Ankara 4
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Gazing Through Ankara" is a captivating series of paintings that celebrates the beauty, diversity, and individuality of black African women through the exploration of eyewear and An...
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
"Le Bal Masque" Giuseppe Verdi Opera
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Le Bal Masque" Giuseppe Verdi Opera, 1967 is an original color lithograph on Japan paper by renown Austrian expressionist artist Oskar ...
Lithograph
$3,700
Monstera 7, Layered Colorful Original Expressionist Garden Landscape Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
In the realm of vibrant expressions, Italian artist Giuseppe Beddru masterfully brings to life abstracted flora in a spectacular fusion of color and form. The canvas dances with an o...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$1,100
Latin American Judaica Conceptual Chassidic Art Modern Woodcut Luis Camnitzer
Located in Surfside, FL
Luis Camnitzer and Martin Buber (1878-1965), New York: JMB Publishers Ltd, 1970. Printed at The New York Graphic Workshop. Hand signed on Arches paper. (Edition 24/100, numbered on...
Woodcut
Anna Tamayo. Port Olimpic acrylic paint
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Anna Tamayo. 1971.An expressionist painter seeks to capture her mood in each of her works. She does this through themes ranging from the most realistic urban landscapes to the most d...
Wood, Acrylic
Symphony of the Sea, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The sun sinks low on the horizon, casting its final warmth and glow across the coast. Gestural, layered brushwork explores the fusion of light and water. The tu...
Mixed Media
Where the Season Turns, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A winding path cuts through a vivid landscape. Verdant trees stand before a stormy sky, signaling the first pulse of spring. Brushstrokes shift from dark shadow...
Acrylic
$1,360Sale Price|26% Off
Euphoria 2
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 Authenticity (Issued by the Gallery) In "Euphoria," an evocative artwork by the skilled artist Kehinde Mayowa...
Canvas, Acrylic
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
Louisiana Serenade (Gelburd/Rosenberg 70-77), Jazz Series, Romare Bearden
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Romare Bearden (1911-1988) Title: Louisiana Serenade (Gelburd/Rosenberg 70-77) Year: 1979 Medium: Lithograph on vélin d’Arches paper Edition: 39/175, plus proofs Size: Paper ...
Lithograph
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, The Preparation of the Feast, Homer, The Odyssey, 1989 (after)
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph after Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Die Zubereitung des Festmahls (The Preparation of the Feast), from Homer, Die Odyssee (The Odyssey), originates from ...
Lithograph
$888Sale Price|34% Off
Mountain Stream Oil Painting, Expressionist, Mid-20th Century, Framed
Located in Genève, GE
Work on cardboard signed Black wooden frame Dimension with frame : 59 x 45.5 x 4.5 cm This work masterfully captures a breathtaking mountain landscape. The scene features a tumultuou...
Oil
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
Resilient Beauty
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The painting is a stunning portrait of a black African woman with an intricate afro hairstyle that dominates the canvas. The use of vibrant oil colors on Ankara fabric gives the painting a rich texture and a sense of depth as if the woman is emerging from the fabric itself. The woman's gaze is direct and unwavering, conveying a sense of strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The Ankara fabric, a traditional African textile, adds a cultural dimension to the painting, highlighting the importance of heritage and identity. The combination of traditional fabric and contemporary art techniques makes the painting a unique and powerful piece that celebrates the beauty and strength of black African women. The painting invites the audience to appreciate the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Africa and to recognize the beauty and power of African women. 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...
Fabric, Canvas, Oil
$3,062Sale Price|20% Off
Expresionist Ceramic and Bronze Bust Sculpture with Fragmented Surface
Located in FISTERRA, ES
This figurative ceramic and bronze bust sculpture highlights a fragmented surface that evokes repair, continuity and embodied memory. Part of the Xentes series by Spanish sculptor Óscar Aldonza...
Bronze
The Hanged Hare - Lithograph, Mourlot
Located in Paris, IDF
Chaim SOUTINE (1893-1943) The Hanged Hare Stone lithograph after a painting (Mourlot workshop) Printed signature in the plate On Arches vellum 50 x 65 cm (c. 20 x 26 inch) Excellen...
Lithograph
Walk under the street lights
Located in Genève, GE
Work on wood Gray frame Dimensions with frame 40 x 40 x 5.5 cm This painting masterfully captures a nighttime street scene, where passers-by cross a space bathed in the soft glow o...
Oil
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Fabric, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$3,200Sale Price|28% Off
Sisters in Yellow 3
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. A sister is a gi...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,656Sale Price|20% Off
Provencal Landscape Poppy Fields Original Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning mid 20th century French Expressionist oil painting on canvas. The work depicts this gloriously vibrant and colourful landscape in Provence - we are told by the former owner it represents the Luberon Valley region in Provence, in the fields around Cucuron. We acquired the painting from a private collector in the heart of Provence who had owned the painting for many years. The work is unsigned but very, very close in every respect to the Corsican born artist PIERRE AMBROGIANI (1907-1985) and further research in this direction could be fruitful. Condition and Size: The painting is in good condition. The paint has begun to split in places as one would expect with such thickly applied oil paint. The canvas, unframed is 38cm x 55cm. Pierre Ambrogiani was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, although he was brought up in Marseille, where he continued to live and work for the rest of his life. He was an Expressionist painter of Provençal landscapes...
Oil
Still Life with a Turkey - Lithograph, Mourlot
Located in Paris, IDF
Chaim SOUTINE (1893-1943) Still Life with a Turkey Stone lithograph after a painting Printed in Mourlot workshop Unsigned On Arches vellum 50 x 65 cm (c. 20 x 26 inch) Excellent co...
Lithograph
$2,040Sale Price|20% Off
Sable - 21st Century Contemporary, Expressionist Portrait, African Woman, Face
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...
Canvas, Acrylic
Wild Orchard at Pemberley, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Wild Orchard at Pemberley captures the precise moment when a spring breeze turns an ornamental garden into a beautiful, chaotic dance. This piece is my personal interpretation of Eng...
Oil
Sweet Pea Dreams – Abstract Floral Landscape, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Sweet Pea Dreams, acrylic and oil on canvas, 60 x 40 cm Sweet Pea Dreams is a luminous floral painting inspired by the soft elegance of sweet peas in bloom. Layers of pinks, viole...
Acrylic
$1,600
Au Presser Le Raisin Fut Foule', Expressionist Intaglio by Georges Rouault
Located in Long Island City, NY
Au Presser Le Raisin Fut Foule’ (In the Winepress the Grapes were Crushed ) from the Misere Series, Plate #48 Georges Rouault, French (1871–1958) Date: 1922 Intaglio, signed and date...
Intaglio
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
My Happy Place
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
I believe this work of Art would remind viewers about their warm childhood, give them a rekindled desire to live, and find comfort in the people surrounding them. We all need a reason to live and to remind ourselves that it is easier to raise strong children than to repair broken men! 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...
Canvas, Oil
$530Sale Price|20% Off
Provence Fishing Harbour French Expressionist Original Painting
By Akos Biro
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
AKOS BIRO (HUNGARIAN 1911-2002) watercolour / gouache, size: 9.75 x 6.25 inches Beautifully colourful, original painting by the very popular and highly regarded Hungarian/ French pa...
Oil Pastel, Gouache
$790
Raventos Buildings City Litle original expressionist acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Raventos. buildings. city. original expressionist acrylic painting RAVENTÓS Mª Assumpció – (San Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona 1930). Raventos trained at the elite Sant Jordi School of F...
Acrylic
$3,348Sale Price|20% Off
Landscape Painting of Dijon France, Burgundy Canal by Jean Boulay (1937-1994) A
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Pair of Landscapes: Dijon France, Burgundy Canal Jean Boulay (French, 1937-1994) Oil on canvas Signed and dated 21 1/2 x 15 inches (each) The pair landscape...
Canvas, Oil
R. Poch Felix in blue 131 acrylic painting
By Ramon Poch
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
130 x 100 cm acrylic painting Born in Badalona (Barcelona). Photographer and advertising film director. Founding partner of the advertising production company La Cosa de las Pelicu...
Acrylic
Colorful Woods, Original Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Tree trunks rise from the forest floor, some cloaked in moss and blending with the fertile surroundings, while others stand out with dark red bark. Shifting sha...
Acrylic
Beauty in Ashes, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A pink rose blooms on a background filled with black ink marks and pastel colors. It shows how beauty can thrive, even in the darkest of times. Artist Dafni Milan...
Mixed Media
$1,999Sale Price|20% Off
From Somewhere Deep Inside
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...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,560Sale Price|20% Off
Sisters in Yellow 4 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Love African Fabric
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. "Often, in old a...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
A Chapter of Tranquility
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"A Chapter of Tranquility" by Desmond Akindoju invites viewers into a serene tableau that captures the essence of peaceful coexistence. In this deligh...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,040Sale Price|20% Off
Shielded Heart -21st Century Contemporary Figurative Portrait of Woman, Umbrella
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...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,000Sale Price|20% Off
A Life (B) R.B. Kitaj Film noir night city scene of woman in red dress
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the artist and numbered 49/50 lower left in pencil. Color lithograph on mauve Wookey Hole handmade waterleaf paper. This print features the encounter between an alluring ...
Lithograph
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
Afro Crown 1 - 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...
Canvas, Acrylic
Sunny day in Venice
Located in Zofingen, AG
Town. The beauty of cities is different: there are cities with museums, such as Rome, Paris. Where to look at beautiful architecture! There are also small provincial towns where lif...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Swirling bouquet of Flowers
By Paul Mathey
Located in Genève, GE
Work on canvas Molded frame in gilded wood Dimensions with frame : 69.5 x 61.5 x 7 cm This artistic work stands out for its boldness and striking texture. The painting features a co...
Oil
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
Lady on Blue 2
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Lady on Blue 2" is a captivating piece of art that features a lady with blue skin sitting in a seductive pose. The painting portrays a woman who is both alluring and mysterious, wit...
Canvas, Acrylic
Coral tulips 2
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I poured my soul into the delicate blooms, capturing their tender energy with vibrant, soft hues of coral and pink. Using oil, I aimed to blend expressionism and reali...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Gerlach's Allegorien Plate #116: "Force, Thirst, Love" Lithograph
Located in Palm Beach, FL
after Carl Otto Czeschka, (1878-1960), Austrian A leading member of the Vienna Secession and later the Wiener Werkstätte (Viennese Workshop), Carl Otto Czeschka was a vital figu...
Lithograph
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Old Friends Abstract Expressionist Figurative
Located in Soquel, CA
Five figures gathered of old friends--the best friends-- by San Francisco artist Michael William Eggleston (American, 20th century). From a collection of his works, unsigned. Unframe...
Canvas, Oil
Pond with beautiful irises 60Х80 oil on canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I captured the essence of serenity and growth. Embracing the harmonious dance of light and shadow, I portrayed the irises with an impressionistic touch, evoking...
Canvas, Oil
Family Gathering In Provence - Original Lithograph, SIGNED
Located in Paris, IDF
Pierre AMBROGIANI (1907-1985) Family Gathering in Provence, 1974 Original Lithograph (Gourdon Workshop) Signed with the artist's stamp On vellum 38 x 56 cm (c. 14.9 x 22 in) Excell...
Lithograph
Burgundy peonies, blue flowers in a vase.Candles and antique table.
Located in Zofingen, AG
A gorgeous, luxurious lovely summer bouquet of flowers in a blue vase. Blue wildflowers of forget-me-nots grow at my mother's cottage. White flowers appeared in the forest, delicate....
Canvas, Lacquer, Oil
$955Sale Price|20% Off
Caged Woman 2, Contemporary Verdigris Bronze Figure Suspended in Rusted Iron Orb
Located in FISTERRA, ES
Verdigris bronze figure suspended within a sculptural rusted iron orb offers a poetic meditation on confinement and transcendence. Caged Woman 2 (Ø 32 cm) by Aldonza features a slend...
Bronze, Iron
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Beacon of Light -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Landscape
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 Elie HATUNGIMAN...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,960Sale Price|20% Off
Black Beauty - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Acrylic, 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 Born in 1993 in...
Canvas, Acrylic
KOI 1
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this creation, I merged the fluidity of acrylics with the richness of oils, embracing both expressionism and impressionism to capture the spirited essence of a koi fish. Through s...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
$1,160Sale Price|20% Off
Her Quest - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Impasto, Woman, Pink, Birds
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 (Issued...
Canvas, Acrylic
Early to Mid 20th Century Italian Expressionist "Pears"
Located in San Francisco, CA
Mystery Italian Expressionist still life. This magnificent oil on board came from the estate of a retired Italian diplomat that had a place in Miami. He had wonderful art and antique...
Oil
Feline surrealism 70X50 oil
Located in Zofingen, AG
In my painting, I've embraced the whimsical charm of naive art while infusing it with surreal and symbolic elements. Using oil paints, I've brought two feline figures to life against...
Canvas, Oil
Saturday evening in November
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this vivid oil canvas, I've captured the fleeting vibrancy of twilight through a blend of impressionism and expressionism, with a touch of realism heartily mixed in. The bold, em...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
Man with Hat (After Van Gogh), Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A man wearing a white hat and blue uniform rests his hands on his chin. Loosely based on Vincent van Gogh's work, this painting adopts a looser and freer execut...
Acrylic
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...
Etching
R. Poch Women Wuith Light Bulb acrylic painting
By Ramon Poch
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
28.-Women wuith light bulb 130 x 100 cm acrylic painting Born in Badalona (Barcelona). Photographer and advertising film director. Founding partner of the advertising production co...
Acrylic
Casademont. coast original expressionist acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
original expressionist acrylic painting. His family was originally from Figueres. He studied industrial engineering and fine arts at the Llotja School and he relates to Cercle Maill...
Acrylic
Summer Bouquet – Vibrant Floral Impressionist Painting on Canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Summer Bouquet” – Vibrant Floral Impressionist Painting on Canvas Bring the beauty of summer into your home with this stunning hand-painted floral artwork titled “Summer Bouquet.” ...
Oil