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Expressionist Art

EXPRESSIONIST STYLE

While “expressionist” is used to describe any art that avoids naturalism and instead employs a bold use of flattened forms and intense brushwork, Expressionist art formally describes early-20th-century work from Europe that drew on Symbolism and confronted issues such as urbanization and capitalism. Expressionist artists experimented in paintings and prints with skewed perspectives, abstraction and unconventional, bright colors to portray how isolating and anxious the world felt rather than how it appeared. 

Between 1905 and 1920, Austrian and German artists, in particular, were inspired by Postimpressionists such as Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh in their efforts to strive for a new authenticity in their work. In its geometric patterns and decorative details, Expressionist art was also marked by eclectic sources like German and Russian folk art as well as tribal art from Africa and Oceania, which the movement’s practitioners witnessed at museums and world’s fairs.

Groups of artists came together to share and promote the themes now associated with Expressionism, such as Die Brücke (The Bridge) in Dresden, which included Erich Heckel, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and investigated alienation and the dissolution of society in vivid color. In Munich, Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), a group led by Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc, instilled Expressionism with a search for spiritual truths. In his iconic painting The Scream, prolific Norwegian painter Edvard Munch conveyed emotional turmoil through his depiction of environmental elements, such as the threatening sky.

Expressionism shifted around the outbreak of World War I, with artists using more elements of the grotesque in reaction to the escalation of unrest and violence. Printmaking was especially popular, as it allowed artists to widely disseminate works that grappled with social and political issues amid this time of upheaval. Although the art movement ended with the rise of Nazi Germany, where Expressionist creators were labeled “degenerate,” the radical ideas of these artists would influence Neo-Expressionism that emerged in the late 1970s with painters like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Francesco Clemente.

​​Find a collection of authentic Expressionist paintings, sculptures, prints and more art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Expressionist
Marc Chagall, Pelleas and Melisande, 1963 (after)
Marc Chagall, Pelleas and Melisande, 1963 (after)

Marc Chagall, Pelleas and Melisande, 1963 (after)

By Marc Chagall

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph after Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Pelleas et Melisande (Pelleas and Melisande), from the album Le plafond de l’Opera de Paris par Marc Chagall (The Cei...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Track Star - Figurative Portrait of an African American Man in Pastel on Paper
Track Star - Figurative Portrait of an African American Man in Pastel on Paper

Track Star - Figurative Portrait of an African American Man in Pastel on Paper

Located in Soquel, CA

Track Star - Abstracted Portrait of an African American Man in Pastel on Paper Bold and imaginative pastel drawing of a man in a track suit by an unknown artist (20th Century). An A...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Oil Pastel

Walk on the Sea
Walk on the Sea

Walk on the Sea

Located in Zofingen, AG

I've poured my soul into this painting, blending acrylic and oil to form a vibrant dance between realism and abstraction. It's an expression of my emotions, where bold strokes and mu...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard

Morning
Morning

Morning

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this painting, I've melded acrylic and oil to evoke morning's transcendent vibrancy. With every expressive stroke and bold hue, I sought to capture the essence of a new dawn. It's...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard

Mid Century Abstract Expressionism -- The Nude and the Reader
Mid Century Abstract Expressionism -- The Nude and the Reader

Mid Century Abstract Expressionism -- The Nude and the Reader

By Jennifer Wallace

Located in Soquel, CA

Abstract Expressionist painting of nude and reader dated December 1966 by Jennifer Wallace (American, 20th Century). Signed lower left corner and on verso. Canvas size: 37.75"H x 4...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Field of poppies
Field of poppies

Field of poppies

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this piece, I sought to capture the vibrancy and tranquility of nature, merging the wild with the serene. The crimson poppies dance in the breeze, a sea of passion and life, while...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

Burgundy peonies, blue flowers in a vase.Candles and antique table.
Burgundy peonies, blue flowers in a vase.Candles and antique table.

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....

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Lacquer, Oil

Raventos  Big Blue Orange  original expressionist acrylic painting
Raventos  Big Blue Orange  original expressionist acrylic painting

Raventos Big Blue Orange original expressionist acrylic painting

By Maria Asuncion Raventos

Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL

"Cap vespre" 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 Ba...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Romance of the sea 21X30
Romance of the sea 21X30

Romance of the sea 21X30

Located in Zofingen, AG

In creating this piece, I endeavored to embody the tranquil beauty of nature, blending the serenity of the sea with the vibrant liveliness of blossoming flowers. Utilizing the expres...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Romance of the sea 30X30
Romance of the sea 30X30

Romance of the sea 30X30

Located in Zofingen, AG

This work reflects the romantic mood that we get while on vacation. Beautiful roses in the garden on the shore of the southern sea. White sails and blue sky, all this resembles a par...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Anniversary, Original Painting
Anniversary, Original Painting

Anniversary, Original Painting

By Crystal DiPietro

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The sun sets on a rocky mountaintop, casting warm colors on a jagged ridge below. The contrast between light and shadow captures the fleeting beauty of twilig...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Mixed Media

'Camille VI', Fauve Figural of Young Woman, California Post Impressionist Oil
'Camille VI', Fauve Figural of Young Woman, California Post Impressionist Oil

'Camille VI', Fauve Figural of Young Woman, California Post Impressionist Oil

By Anthony McNaught

Located in Santa Cruz, CA

Signed verso, 'Ant McNaught', (American, 1952-2026), titled 'Camille VI', and dated 2018-2020. This California Post-Impressionist and Abstract Expressionist artist has studied at the Esalen Institute with Erin Gafill and Tom Birmingham...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Summer. Flower field 17
Summer. Flower field 17

Summer. Flower field 17

By Iryna Kastsova

Located in Zofingen, AG

Summer. Flower field 17. A sunny summer day, the whole earth is warmed by warmth, a flowering field, flowers, colorful poppies, the sky create an atmosphere of relaxation, harmony, r...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Love in the Night City
Love in the Night City

Love in the Night City

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this vibrant painting, I've married the boldness of pop art with the heartfelt touch of naive style. The use of acrylic and oil gives depth and texture, evoking the raw emotions a...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

'Still Life of Flowers', Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts, Budapest
'Still Life of Flowers', Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts, Budapest

'Still Life of Flowers', Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts, Budapest

By Bordas Ferenc

Located in Santa Cruz, CA

Oil still-life of a bouquet of ocher, rose, cobalt, lavender, and ivory wildflowers, informally arranged in a goblet against a background of rust and periwinkle. Signed lower right...

Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Fence Line, Oil Painting
The Fence Line, Oil Painting

The Fence Line, Oil Painting

By George Peebles

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A row of trees stands against a muted sky, their thick red and orange canopies rising above slender trunks. Expressive brushwork adds weight and movement to the...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

NYC=Vibrant, Original Painting
NYC=Vibrant, Original Painting

NYC=Vibrant, Original Painting

By Kajal Zaveri

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The Empire State Building rises with bold and vibrant strokes. The minimalist lines and blurry contrasts capture the dynamic spirit of New York City. It reflect...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Mid-Century French Oil on Panel. 'The Arrival', Sailboats at Monte Carlo.
Mid-Century French Oil on Panel. 'The Arrival', Sailboats at Monte Carlo.

Mid-Century French Oil on Panel. 'The Arrival', Sailboats at Monte Carlo.

Located in Cotignac, FR

Mid 20th Century oil on panel view of sailboats in the port of Monte Carlo. The painting carries a monogram of the peace symbol and a date to the back of the panel. The artist has c...

Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Harbor
Harbor

Harbor

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this painting, I've captured the serene yet profound voyage of a ship sailing into a golden sunset. Using a blend of acrylic and oil, I explore the dynamics between light and shad...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Nude

Jean-Pierre CassigneulNude, 1987

$9,200Sale Price|20% Off

Nude

By Jean-Pierre Cassigneul

Located in New York, NY

This watercolor has a photo certificate signed by the artist and will be included in his future catalogue raisonne. This has a complete subject compared to other drawings consisting...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Evening lights of Prague. The Charles Bridge.
Evening lights of Prague. The Charles Bridge.

Evening lights of Prague. The Charles Bridge.

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this piece, I've sought to capture the ethereal glow of twilight embracing the iconic architecture. The playful dance of light and shadow melds realism with a hint of impressionis...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

'The Couple in Red' by Helen Steele - Modern Abstract Figurative Painting
'The Couple in Red' by Helen Steele - Modern Abstract Figurative Painting

'The Couple in Red' by Helen Steele - Modern Abstract Figurative Painting

By Helen Steele

Located in Carmel, CA

Helen Steele (German, 1961-2022) 'The Couple in Red' 2011 Mixed Media, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the back of the painting. "The Couple in Red" is a stirring 30" x 24"...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Stretcher Bars

Moonlight Night
Moonlight Night

Moonlight Night

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this painting, I poured my emotions into every stroke, capturing the haunting beauty of a moonlit night. Blending acrylics, watercolors, and ink, I embraced expressionism and impr...

Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic, Archival Paper

Floating Dreams
Floating Dreams

Rachael DalzellFloating Dreams, 2023

$5,340Sale Price|20% Off

Floating Dreams

By Rachael Dalzell

Located in Coltishall, GB

’Floating Dreams' is an impressive painting inspired by the North Norfolk Broads and beautiful countryside near to where Rachael lives. Rachael Dalzell’s paintings are colourful and...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Acrylic

Blue Heaven, Oil Painting
Blue Heaven, Oil Painting

Blue Heaven, Oil Painting

By George Peebles

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
An expansive blue sky meets the ocean in a quiet, seamless horizon, with a single cloud drifting gently above. Below, the shoreline is alive with wispy grasse...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

After the Show
After the Show

After the Show

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this painting, I sought to blend the gentle curves of a reclining figure with the bold, resonant shape of a cello, symbolizing the integration of human vulnerability and the power...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Elderly Rabbi 20th Century Judaica Portrait
Elderly Rabbi 20th Century Judaica Portrait

Elderly Rabbi 20th Century Judaica Portrait

Located in Surfside, FL

The artist depicts the portrait of an older Rabbi from a profile view in the manner of Samuel Rothbort. The artist's brush work is expressive, while the subject matter has a high deg...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

In the park
In the park

In the park

Located in Genève, GE

Work on cardboard Dimensions with frame :52.5 x 60.5 x 7 cm This work depicts an outdoor scene, probably in a lively park or garden, where bourgeois life in the early 20th century s...

Category

Early 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

GUITAR 2
GUITAR 2

GUITAR 2

Located in Zofingen, AG

In my painting, I captured the intimate embrace between human expression and music through vivid expressionist and impressionist brush strokes, underscored with a touch of pop art vi...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic, Archival Paper

"Les Brindilles". Mid-Century French Expressionist Oil on Board.
"Les Brindilles". Mid-Century French Expressionist Oil on Board.

"Les Brindilles". Mid-Century French Expressionist Oil on Board.

Located in Cotignac, FR

Mid-Century oil on board by 20th century artist Ahlan Achoy, signed bottom left. Ahlan Achoy was known for his figurative art and portraiture often in the cubist style. This colourf...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Mid Century French Expressionist Signed Oil Sun over Landscape with Cottage
Mid Century French Expressionist Signed Oil Sun over Landscape with Cottage

Mid Century French Expressionist Signed Oil Sun over Landscape with Cottage

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Artist/ School: French School, signed and dated Title: Expressionist landscape Medium: oil on board Size: 6.5 x 9 inches Provenance: private collection, France Condition: The ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Two in a Boat
Two in a Boat

Two in a Boat

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this piece, I've woven vivid expressionism with a hint of pop art's boldness, contrasting with the subtlety of impressionism. With acrylic and oil, I depict an enchanting voyage o...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Cardboard

Night Light, Oil Painting
Night Light, Oil Painting

Night Light, Oil Painting

By George Peebles

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Shadows of tall, slender trees rise from the darkness. A subtle ray of moonlight illuminates the landscape, casting a delicate glow that contrasts against the...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Mountain Range, Oil Painting on Canvas by Jalal Gharbi
Mountain Range, Oil Painting on Canvas by Jalal Gharbi

Mountain Range, Oil Painting on Canvas by Jalal Gharbi

Located in Long Island City, NY

A large oil painting of a dramatic Mountain Range by Tunisian-born artist, Jalal Gharbi (1920 - 2005). The painting measures 30 x 40 inches and the frame 37.5 x 47.5 inches.

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Daybreak, Original Painting
Daybreak, Original Painting

Daybreak, Original Painting

By Crystal DiPietro

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

Salt On My Face,  Contemporary Seascape Oil Painting
Salt On My Face,  Contemporary Seascape Oil Painting

Salt On My Face, Contemporary Seascape Oil Painting

By Penny Rumble

Located in Brecon, Powys

The Atlantic ocean at its most ethereal, when sea and sky mix in a delicate fading of colours. There is spray in the air and immediately you are transported into a mythical world of ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Attributed  To Benjamin Kopman "The Rabbi"
Attributed  To Benjamin Kopman "The Rabbi"

Attributed To Benjamin Kopman "The Rabbi"

By Benjamin Kopman

Located in San Francisco, CA

Benjamin Kopman: 1887-1965. Well listed artist born in Russia, but came to U.S. in 1903. He studied at the National Academy of Design in NYC. He has had auction results over $5000 bu...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Country House In The North (Landhaus im Norden)

Country House In The North (Landhaus im Norden)

By Paul Klee

Located in Kansas City, MO

Paul Klee (after) Country House In The North (Landhaus im Norden) Year: 1925 Serigraph Size: 14x16.9 on 19x21.5 inches Edition: 440 Signed in the stone, numbered by hand Publisher: K...

Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Screen

Adriatica
Adriatica

Adriatica

Located in Zofingen, AG

In crafting this piece, I was drawn to the interplay between nature and the human spirit. The rocky shore and majestic seascape reflect life's constant motions, while the solitary fi...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Heavenly Irises
Heavenly Irises

Heavenly Irises

Located in Zofingen, AG

FLOWERS (Large Format Thick Paper) Art - Work on Paper In this artwork, I've infused vibrant expressions, using acrylic and oil pastel, capturing the ethereal beauty of irises as the...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Satin Paper

Colourful Abstract Portrait, French Expressionist Original Painting
Colourful Abstract Portrait, French Expressionist Original Painting

Colourful Abstract Portrait, French Expressionist Original Painting

By Akos Biro

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

AKOS BIRO (HUNGARIAN 1911-2002) watercolour / gouache size: 11 x 7.5 inches Beautifully colourful, original painting by the very popular and highly regarded Hungarian/ French painte...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Gouache

"Welsh Coast at Ogmore" by the Sea Original Watercolor
"Welsh Coast at Ogmore" by the Sea Original Watercolor

"Welsh Coast at Ogmore" by the Sea Original Watercolor

Located in Soquel, CA

"Welsh Coast at Ogmore" by the Sea Original Watercolor Grey tones dominate this rocky coastal painting by John Addyman (Wales, 1929-2006), characterized by his use of muted tones, pr...

Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Watercolor, Laid Paper

Port Provençal by Bürgisser - Oil on wood 27x35 cm
Port Provençal by Bürgisser - Oil on wood 27x35 cm

Port Provençal by Bürgisser - Oil on wood 27x35 cm

Located in Geneva, CH

Oil on cardboard with frame. Total size with frame is 47x39 cm Artist from Zurich Switzerland, unknown from the gallery

Category

20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

"Colorful Mexican Village Scene" Expressionistic Oil Painting on Masonite
"Colorful Mexican Village Scene" Expressionistic Oil Painting on Masonite

"Colorful Mexican Village Scene" Expressionistic Oil Painting on Masonite

By Michael Baxte

Located in New York, NY

A strong modernist oil painting depicted Circa 1960 by Russian painter Michael Baxte. Mostly known for his abstracted figures on canvas or street scenes, this piece is a wonderful representation of his bold still life paintings, with expressive use of color, shape, and form. Later in his career, Baxte explores Expressionism, infusing both European and North American stylistic trends. This piece is from later in his career, but we can feel this underlying style throughout. Art measures 18 x 21.75 inches Michael Posner Baxte was born in 1890 in the small town of Staroselje Belarus, Russia. For the first half of the 19th century it was a center of the Chabad movement of Hasidic Jews, but this group was gone by the middle of the 19th century. By the time the Baxte family immigrated to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, the Jewish population numbered only on the hundreds. The native language of the Baxte family was Yiddish. It is likely that the death of Michael Baxte’s father triggered the family’s immigration. Three older brothers arrived in New York between 1903 and 1905. Michael and his mother, Rebecca, arrived in 1907. By 1910 Michael, his mother, and brother, Joseph, were living in New Orleans and may have spent some time on a Louisiana plantation. Around 1912, Michael Baxte returned to Europe to study the violin. In 1914 he, his mother, and Joseph moved to New York City. Meanwhile, in Algeria, a talented young woman painter, Violette Mege, was making history. Since for the first time, a woman won the prestigious Beaux Art competition in Algeria. At first, the awards committee denied her the prize but, with French government intervention, Mege eventually prevailed. She won again 3 years later and, in 1916, used the scholarship to visit the United States of America. When Violette came to New York, she met Baxte, who was, by then, an accomplished violinist, teacher, and composer. Baxte’s compositions were performed at the Tokyo Imperial Theater, and in 1922 he was listed in the American Jewish Yearbook as one of the prominent members of the American Jewish community. As a music teacher he encouraged individual expression. Baxte stated, “No pupil should ever be forced into imitation of the teacher. Art is a personal experience, and the teacher’s truest aim must be to awaken this light of personality through the patient light of science.” By 1920 Michael Baxte and Violette Mege were living together in Manhattan. Although they claimed to be living as husband and wife, it seems that their marriage did not become official until 1928. On their “unofficial” honeymoon around 1917, in Algiers, Baxte confided to her his ambition to paint. There and later in New Mexico where the wonderful steeped sunlight approximates the coloring of Algiers, she taught him his heart’s desire. He never had any other teacher. She never had any other pupil. For ten years she devoted all her time, energy, and ambition to teaching, encouraging, inspiring him. Then in 1928, their mutual strivings were rewarded, as his works were being chosen as one of the two winners in the Dudensing National Competition for American Painters. Out of 150 artists from across the country participated in the Dudensing, and Michael Posner Baxte and, Robert Fawcett, were the winners. In his 1924 naturalization application, he indicated that he was sometimes known as “Michael Posner Baxte.” One of the witnesses to his application was Bernard Karfiol, a Jewish American artist. That’s when Michael may...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Masonite

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.