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.
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, Tribe of Dan, from The Jerusalem Windows, 1962 (after)
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph after Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Tribe of Dan, from the album Marc Chagall, The Jerusalem Windows, originates from the 1962 edition published by Andre...
Lithograph
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, Tribe of Issachar, from The Jerusalem Windows, 1962 (after)
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph after Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Tribe of Issachar, from the album Marc Chagall, The Jerusalem Windows, originates from the 1962 edition published by ...
Lithograph
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, Tribe of Judah, from The Jerusalem Windows, 1962 (after)
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph after Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Tribe of Judah, from the album Marc Chagall, The Jerusalem Windows, originates from the 1962 edition published by And...
Lithograph
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, Tribe of Reuben, from The Jerusalem Windows, 1962 (after)
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph after Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Tribe of Reuben, from the album Marc Chagall, The Jerusalem Windows, originates from the 1962 edition published by An...
Lithograph
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...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
$2,120Sale Price|20% Off
Beyond the Limits
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Beyond the Limits is a work that explains what youth in a developing country goes through. Most youth who have to experience the squalor of a developing economy are characterized by wholesale dejection and despair with many of them resorting to drug use and various crimes that jeopardized their lives. Many cannot see a future beyond their present abode. Artist Busari Adewale...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
Regal Beauty 1
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Regal Beauty 1 is an oil painting that showcases the elegance and majesty of a black African woman. The subject is depicted with an afro hairstyle and a tribal mark on her face, which highlights her cultural identity and connection to her African roots. The Ankara fabric provides the backdrop, adding texture and depth to the piece and making the subject stand out even more. The oil on Ankara fabric medium creates a stunning visual effect, bringing out the richness of the colors and capturing the subject's beauty and strength. This painting serves as a tribute to the beauty, elegance, and resilience of African women and is a powerful reminder of the importance of cultural appreciation and representation. 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, Oil
OPISSO PROCESSION.VIRGIN original gouache painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
OPISSO CARDONA, Alfredo (Barcelona, 1907 - Mataro, Barcelona, 1980). Painter and illustrator, was the son of Ricardo Opisso and nephew of Joan Cardona, who gave him the first lesson...
Gouache, Cardboard
$1,793
Roses
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've poured my soul into capturing the timeless elegance of roses, a symphony of color and emotion. Every brushstroke is imbued with passion, reflecting the dan...
Canvas, Oil
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
Tight Corner 1
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The artwork titled "Tight Corner" features a man and woman looking at each other in a romantic way, with a smile on their faces. This piece of art is a beautiful representation of lo...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Love story
Located in Zofingen, AG
In my artwork, I strove to capture the profound connection between beings, a moment of tenderness transcending words. This piece embodies the timeless dance of companionship and empa...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
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;...
Screen
$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
Ade Witboi - Rare Book Illustrated by George Grosz - 1955
By George Grosz
Located in Roma, IT
Ade Witboi is an original modern rare book with illustrations by George Grosz (Berlin, 1823 - 1959, Berlin), published in 1955. Original First Edition. Published by Arani, Berlin Grunewald. Format: in 4°. The book includes XXII pages with 47 fullpage black and white drawings and 4 colored pages. Mint conditions. George Grosz (Berlin, 1823 - 1959, Berlin). By the war’s end in 1918, Grosz had developed an unmistakable graphic style that combined a highly expressive use of line with ferocious social caricature. Out of his wartime experiences and his observations of chaotic postwar Germany grew a series of drawings savagely attacking militarism, war profiteering, the gulf between rich and poor, social decadence, and Nazism. In drawing collections such as The Face of the Ruling Class (1921) and Ecce Homo (1922), Grosz depicts fat Junkers, greedy capitalists, smug bourgeoisie, drinkers, and lechers—as well as hollow-faced factory labourers, the poor, and the unemployed. At this time Grosz belonged to the Berlin Dada art movement, having befriended the German Dadaist brothers Wieland Herzfelde and John Heartfield...
Paper, Offset
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, Tribe of Benjamin, from The Jerusalem Windows, 1962 (after)
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph after Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Tribe of Benjamin, from the album Marc Chagall, The Jerusalem Windows, originates from the 1962 edition published by ...
Lithograph
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, Tribe of Judah, from The Jerusalem Windows, 1962 (after)
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph after Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Tribe of Judah, from the album Marc Chagall, The Jerusalem Windows, originates from the 1962 edition published by And...
Lithograph
Donas 1.Original crayons paper painting
By Agustin Rio
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
A. Rio Barcelona .Original gouache paper painting . AGUSTIN RIO ( Barceona 1923 – Barcelona 1997) Formed in Llotja i al Cercle Artístic de Sant Lluc He appeared individually in 195...
Crayon, Cardboard
$276Sale Price|20% Off
20th Paris School Collage Cutout Artwork Wonderful Interior Design options!
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"Collage" by Bernard Herzog (French, b.1935) signed and stamped verso with catalogue number photo collage cut outs on paper, unframed overall paper: 25.5 x 20 inches Highly unique ...
Photographic Film, Magazine Paper
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Black Melanin
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Being black is our heritage, what we have inherited from the past to value and enjoy in the present, and to preserve and pass on to future generations. Shipping Procedure Ships in a...
Canvas, Acrylic
JULIEN MEUNIE. COAST. MAJORCA original watercolor painting
By Julen Meunie
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
COAST. MAJORCA original watercolor painting. Julien was born in 1948 in Vichy, France. He studied art and theater in Clermont-Ferrand at the same time as finishing his degree in Fr...
Watercolor, Cardboard
'War and Peace', Mid-Century Belgian Surrealist Oil on Board.
Located in Cotignac, FR
Mid-century Surrealist oil on board depicting War and Peace by Belgian Artist, Willy Smitz. Signed and dated bottom right with his recognisable triangular motif ( initialed WS ), in ...
Oil, Board
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
Inner Joy
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The artwork "Inner Joy" portrays a lady sitting in a relaxed position with a peaceful smile on her face. This piece of art speaks volumes about the importance of finding inner happin...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$9,600Sale Price|36% Off
Unique Large Painting on canvas by Serg Graff "Card Sharping".
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This is a rare unique original large acrylic/oil painting on canvas in a naive primitivism style depicting a group of fantasy characters gathered around a poker table. Signed by Ser...
Acrylic
Dandelions at sunrise 70X90
Located in Zofingen, AG
When I get to work with dandelions, I associate them with our wonderful, beautiful and fragile, like a crystal world. The magic field of solar dandelions from which it is impossible ...
Canvas, Oil
$490Sale Price|87% Off
The Theory on Jazz History
By Jose Borrell
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting is in excellent condition and has only been shown in a gallery setting. The painting measures 78" x 35" and 81"x 38" with frame. Known for his hyperrealist nudes and portraits, Jose Borrell captures both the human form and emotions. Transcending beyond mere documentation, Borrell transmits the personality and essence of his subjects. His latest series focuses on twentieth-century American jazz saxophonist Ben Webster, and true to Borrell's signature trait, the paintings transmit the vibrant energy of the acclaimed musician. Born in 1909 in Kansas City, Missouri, Ben Webster studied violin in elementary school and taught himself piano. In 1927-1928 he played for silent movies in Kansas City and in Amarillo, Texas. After a friend introduced him to basic chords on the saxophone, he devoted himself to the instrument and played with many emerging orchestras in the bustling 1930s Kansas City jazz...
Canvas, Oil
$1,080Sale Price|20% Off
Sculpted Heritage (Beauty Within Us)
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The Beauty Within Us" is a compelling narrative series of paintings that celebrates the unique and diverse beauty of Black hair, serving as a powerful symbol of identity, heritage, a...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,640Sale Price|20% Off
Cloaks 1: Conceal
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Cloaks 1: Conceal is an original painting by Victor Chigozie. Victor created Cloaks 1: Conceal Acrylic on a 35.4W by 47.2H inches primed canvas. "Cloaks 1: Conceal" is a thought-pro...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
Togetherness
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Togetherness" is a stunning artwork created by Gbelekale Azeez, featuring a man and a woman. The piece is an expression of the beauty of togetherness, and it captures the essence of...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,500
Raventos Gig Vertical Barcelona original expressionist acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
"Barcelona" original expressionist acrylic painting RAVENTÓS Mª Assumpció – (San Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona 1930). Raventos trained at the elite Sant Jordi School of Fine Arts in B...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Little Red Riding Hood 60X40 oil
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've melded expressionism with touches of impressionism and realism to capture a moment of serene companionship amidst nature's downpour. The vivid red umbrella...
Canvas, Oil
$3,040Sale Price|20% Off
Dialogue With Butterfly
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Dialogue With Butterfly" is a captivating piece of art that portrays a man with a butterfly in his hand. This artwork is a visual representation of the profound connection between m...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,271
Mörder Hoffnung der Frauen - Rare Book Illustrated by Oskar Kokoschka - 1916
Located in Roma, IT
Mörder hoffnung der frauen (Murderer, Hope of Women) is an original modern rare book illustrated by Oskar Kokoschka (Pöchlarn, 1886 – Montreux, 1980) in 1916. Original deluxe editio...
Paper, Etching
$796Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, The Ladder, from Chagall, 1957
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled L’Echelle (The Ladder), from the album Chagall, originates from the 1957 edition published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, and...
Lithograph
Unreachable by Design, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A woman sits comfortably on a blue chair. In a world of constant alerts and demands, she chooses to be present. By leaving her phone behind, she reclaims her rh...
Acrylic
The Teapot’s Tale, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A reflective teapot anchors this vibrant still life, its chrome surface mirroring the surrounding fruits, which glow like punctuation in a quiet narrative. Latt...
Acrylic
The View Within, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A cross-shaped window frame divides the composition into emotional quadrants: hope, turbulence, reflection, and restraint. Dynamic brushwork and vivid colors pu...
Acrylic
Where the Keys Remember You, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A piano and violin emerge from dreamlike forms. In this painting, artist Lynne Meneses pays tribute to the legacies of masters and her beloved parents, who brou...
Acrylic
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
Queen Eniola
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Queen Eniola" is a stunning portrait of an African queen created by the Nigerian artist, Theophilus Madaki. The painting depicts Queen Eniola, a pow...
Canvas, Oil
$358Sale Price|50% Off
Hippie Portrait Oil Painting on Canvas, Expressionist, Framed, 1970s
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Frame size 50x58 cm. Joan Cruspinera Muñoz was born in 1945 in Tiana, Barcelona. This Catalan artist is a painter, draftsman and painter. His training...
Canvas, Oil
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, Jeremiah, from Drawings for the Bible, 1956 Bible
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Jeremie (Jeremiah), from Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), Verve: Revue Artistique et Litter...
Lithograph
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
Messenger -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, People, Expressionism, Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The Messenger” is a portrait of presence both seen and unseen. Dressed in formal strength, the figure emerges from a clouded realm, flanked by ghostlike silhouettes that evoke spirit...
Canvas, Coffee, Mixed Media
'Rocky Seascape Overlook, ' by James Cobb, Oil on Canvas Painting
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This 16 x 20 oil on canvas by artist James Cobb depicts a rocky coastal overlook featuring a white home perched in the middle ground with a gray, looming mountain range extending acr...
Canvas, Oil
In the arms of the Angel
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I embraced the delicate dance between realism and expressionism, aiming to convey deep emotion. The soft interplay of light and shadow across the figure's for...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
Sunny dandelions 50X70
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work symbolizes our wonderful, beautiful and fragile, like a crystal world. The magic field of solar dandelions from which it is impossible to take your eyes off. A short moment...
Canvas, Oil
$1,360Sale Price|26% Off
Euphoria 1
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
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
Kuluso (Ant-Lion Larvae)
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The artwork titled "Kuluso (Ant-Lion Larvae)" is a captivating piece that portrays a man standing beside a woman carrying a child who is breastfeeding. The artwork was created by Nigerian artist Adegbenro Adeola...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, Solomon, from Drawings for the Bible, 1956
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Solomon (Solomon), from Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), Verve: Revue Artistique et Littera...
Lithograph
Golden Rose
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I evoke a tender, introspective moment, captured through the interplay of light and shadow in a lush, impressionistic style. The exuberance of the golden yellow dress ...
Canvas, Oil
$3,040Sale Price|20% Off
Lady on Blue 1
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Lady on Blue 1" 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, with an aura that commands attention. Created by Aba Linus...
Canvas, Acrylic
$478
Contemporary abstract floral painting purple flowers on paper "Amethyst dream"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Amethyst Dream” is a contemporary abstract floral painting by French artist Natalya Mougenot, created as part of her ongoing series dedicated to floral compositions. The work evokes...
Paper, Acrylic
$3,720
Framed En Grisaille Self Portrait Three-Quarter Nude Torso Heroic Pose Ca 1925
Located in Sutton Poyntz, Dorset
Alexandre-Louis Martin. Belgian ( b.1887 - d.1954 ). Self-Portrait Of The Artist. Oil On Canvas. Signed On The Reverse Of The Canvas. Image size 22.4 inches x 16.9 inches ( 57cm x 43...
Canvas, Oil
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
Unflappable 3
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Simon Obeka uses Unflappable to portray a woman showing calmness in a crisis. Unflappable is a spectacular artwork that depicts the spirit of resilience and confidence during turmoil. This painting created by artist Obeka Simon...
Canvas, Oil
Kitties 1
Located in Zofingen, AG
Nude The beauty of a naked body is simply incredible! When I paint a picture with a naked woman, I have the feeling that I am painting space, the universe. I never cease to admire th...
Acrylic, Canvas
Dawn in Paris 50X50 oil on canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant oil painting, I've captured the romance of twilight caressing Paris. My brushstrokes convey the dynamic energy of day giving way to night, as the sky blushes with war...
Canvas, Oil
$276Sale Price|20% Off
20th Paris School Collage Cutout Artwork Wonderful Interior Design options!
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"Collage" by Bernard Herzog (French, b.1935) signed lower corner signed and stamped verso with catalogue number photo collage cut outs on paper, unframed overall paper: 25.5 x 20 in...
Photographic Film, Magazine Paper
$3,520Sale Price|20% Off
Flowers of Paradise
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
What I wanted was a little more structure, a little more sense of purpose, and some acknowledgment from somewhere that I was important. Give them a sense of belonging to the society...
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
Fantasy with Flowers 6
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Fantasy with Flowers" (series of 200+ pictures) paper 59x42cm On the paper acrylic, oil pastel, felt-tip pen, ink, gold leaf, pencils, silver,mixed media. Flowers are a smile of ...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
Field herbs of Provence 30X40 oil.
Located in Zofingen, AG
With each brushstroke, I sought to capture the essence of wild, untamed beauty. This piece, alive with color and emotion, embodies the vibrancy found in nature's own canvas. Each pop...
Canvas, Oil
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
Eyes of the gods
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Eyes of the Gods" is a captivating artwork crafted by the talented artist Samson Tolulope Daramola. This piece showcases a young girl as its central subject, inviting viewers into a...
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
Water lilies 6.
Located in Zofingen, AG
Water lilies 6. Bright, expressive composition: white, pink flowers on an abstract background, created with a brush and spatula. The picture is filled with positive, solar energy. Pa...
Acrylic