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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
French Riviera : View of Cagnes - Lithograph, Mourlot
French Riviera : View of Cagnes - Lithograph, Mourlot

French Riviera : View of Cagnes - Lithograph, Mourlot

Located in Paris, IDF

Chaim SOUTINE (1893-1943) French Riviera : View of Cagnes Stone lithograph after a painting (Mourlot workshop) Unsigned On Arches vellum 50 x 65 cm (c. 20 x 26 inch) Excellent cond...

Category

1970s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

"Woman Leaning Forward" by Gustav Klimt - Original Print from Courtesans Folio
"Woman Leaning Forward" by Gustav Klimt - Original Print from Courtesans Folio

"Woman Leaning Forward" by Gustav Klimt - Original Print from Courtesans Folio

By Gustav Klimt

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Plate #3 from Gustav Klimt's 1907 "Dialogues of the Courtesans" portfolio, consisting of 15 collotypes on cream japon paper. The drawings in this folio are said to be studies for Klimt's well-known Water Serpents paintings...

Category

Early 1900s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper

Blooming tree
Blooming tree

Elena LukinaBlooming tree, 2022

$2,125Sale Price|20% Off

Blooming tree

Located in Zofingen, AG

"In this oil painting, I endeavored to capture the ephemeral beauty of nature's awakening. With each stroke, I sought to embody the delicate dance of blossoms on a gentle breeze, inf...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

On Red
On Red

On Red

Located in Zofingen, AG

Shipped in ROLL In this expressive piece, vibrant red tones flood the canvas, symbolizing the raw, unfiltered emotions of human existence. I utilized a blend of acrylic, watercolor, ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic, Archival Paper

Chagall, Sans titre, Le Dur Désir de Durer (after)
Chagall, Sans titre, Le Dur Désir de Durer (after)

Chagall, Sans titre, Le Dur Désir de Durer (after)

By Marc Chagall

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin bouffant d'Alfa paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the volume, Le Dur Désir de Durer, illustré par Marc Chagall, ...

Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

"The Battle of the Golden Spurs" Avante Garde Print
"The Battle of the Golden Spurs" Avante Garde Print

"The Battle of the Golden Spurs" Avante Garde Print

By James Ensor

Located in Soquel, CA

"The Battle of the Golden Spurs" Avante Garde Print This print of the massive Bataille des Éperons d’Or, or Battle of the Golden Spurs, is considered one of Jame's Ensor's (Belgian ...

Category

1890s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Ink, Etching

Untitled -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Embroidery, Acrylic, Women
Untitled -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Embroidery, Acrylic, Women

Untitled -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Embroidery, Acrylic, Women

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, Thread

Fantasy with Flowers 9
Fantasy with Flowers 9

Fantasy with Flowers 9

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 ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper

Thread of Becoming (Meditating) -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Nature
Thread of Becoming (Meditating) -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Nature

Thread of Becoming (Meditating) -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Nature

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

The beauty of life can be captured through the silent dialogue between past and future—an intergenerational bond woven through time. Their intertwined silhouettes and warm, fluid mot...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

(after) Frans Masereel "Melancolie"
(after) Frans Masereel "Melancolie"

(after) Frans Masereel "Melancolie"

By Frans Masereel

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: collotype (after the woodcut). Printed in 1925 and published in Paris by Albert Morance for "L'Art d'Aujourd'hui", and now very scarce. Image size: 7 7/8 x 5 1/4 inches (200 ...

Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Photogravure

Fantasy with Flowers 48
Fantasy with Flowers 48

Fantasy with Flowers 48

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 ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper

A fated meeting in the rain Original impasto Miniature oil painting
A fated meeting in the rain Original impasto Miniature oil painting

A fated meeting in the rain Original impasto Miniature oil painting

Located in Zofingen, AG

This original oil painting captures a chance encounter on a rainy city street. The artist's skillful brushwork blends expressionism with realism, depicting a fleeting moment of conn...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Giner Bueno 102 Jugando en la playa original painting
Giner Bueno 102 Jugando en la playa original painting

Giner Bueno 102 Jugando en la playa original painting

By Giner Bueno

Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL

Giner Bueno (1935-2000) Jugando en la playa Painter from Alicante, son of the painter Luis Giner Valls. He studied at the School of Arts and Crafts of Valencia and finished his stu...

Category

1990s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Fantasy with Flowers 25
Fantasy with Flowers 25

Fantasy with Flowers 25

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 ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper

H.O. Miethke Das Werk folio "Sunflower" collotype print
H.O. Miethke Das Werk folio "Sunflower" collotype print

H.O. Miethke Das Werk folio "Sunflower" collotype print

Sunflower, no. 10 from the third installment of Das Werk Gustav Klimts Created during his residency in Litzlberg on Attersee, where Klimt and the Floge family summered from 1900-1907, Klimt explores nature’s transcendental qualities. His single sunflower is human-like, it’s golden halo is like a ring of sun-kissed hair surrounding a bald pate. It’s known that at the same time Klimt was creating this image, he was also at work on a photo essay about the Floge sisters’ clothing from their fashion salon. Their fashion house was best known for its “reform dresses” which featured loose-fitting long robes which billowed at the arms and torso. Viewed with this in mind, it is not a hard leap to imagine the lone sunflower as a self-portrait from reverse. Klimt’s balding head crowned in a golden corona forms the apex of a pyramidal flowing gown of foliage and flowers. By orienting the anthropomorphic flower at the garden’s central foreground and adorning it with repetitive motifs of round flowers of varying sizes, Klimt’s sunflower...

Category

Early 1900s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper

'Mehr Sonne fur 1924' (More Sun for 1924)— German Expressionism
'Mehr Sonne fur 1924' (More Sun for 1924)— German Expressionism

'Mehr Sonne fur 1924' (More Sun for 1924)— German Expressionism

By Karl Michel

Located in Myrtle Beach, SC

Karl Michel, 'Mehr Sonne fur 1924. Viel Gluck Wunscht Karl Michel U. Frau', woodcut, 1924, edition 20. Signed, dated, and numbered 'op. 162' and '15/20' in pencil. Signed in the image, lower left. A fine, richly-inked impression on buff wove paper, with full margins (1 1/2 to 2 3/4 inches), in very good condition. Printed by the artist. Scarce. Matted to museum standards, unframed. New Year's Greeting – English translation: "More Sun for 1924. Good Luck Wishes from Karl Michel and his Wife." Image size 4 5/8 x 4 3/4 inches (118 x 121 mm); sheet size 7 3/4 x 10 inches (198 x 254 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). Michel’s work was the subject of a feature article in the influential German graphic design magazine Das Plakat...

Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Woodcut

Walking Blindly, For My People, Elizabeth Catlett
Walking Blindly, For My People, Elizabeth Catlett

Walking Blindly, For My People, Elizabeth Catlett

By Elizabeth Catlett

Located in Southampton, NY

Lithograph on vélin d’Arches 300gm paper. Paper Size: 21.8125 x 18.3125 inches. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Notes: From the album, For My People, 1992. Published...

Category

1990s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Western Dreams, Oil Painting
Western Dreams, Oil Painting

Western Dreams, Oil Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The artwork depicts a vast, turbulent sky. Sculpted clouds gather in slow, thunderous procession above the silent desert. Shades of indigo, cobalt, and silver b...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Mushrooms in the Forest" is an oil painting by Volskaya Liliуa.
Mushrooms in the Forest" is an oil painting by Volskaya Liliуa.

Mushrooms in the Forest" is an oil painting by Volskaya Liliуa.

Located in Zofingen, AG

"Mushrooms in the Forest" is an oil painting by Volskaya Liliуa. Have you been to a forest where there are so many trees that it becomes dark under their canopy? How does it feel? I ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Abstract Collage Figure #4, Original Painting
Abstract Collage Figure #4, Original Painting

Abstract Collage Figure #4, Original Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
This mixed media artwork depicts a woman standing with a composed presence, one hand resting on her shoulder. Artist Gail Ragains incorporated pieces of her ear...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Houses in the Twilight oil on painting expressionist landscape
Houses in the Twilight oil on painting expressionist landscape

Houses in the Twilight oil on painting expressionist landscape

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Author: Francisco Salès (Barcelona, 1904 – Paris, 1976) Title: Houses in the Twilight Technique: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 50 x 73 cm (19.7 x 28.7 in) Dimensions with frame: 58 x 81 ...

Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Joelle de dos au coussin vert 1995 original lithograph by Jean Jansem handsigned
Joelle de dos au coussin vert 1995 original lithograph by Jean Jansem handsigned

Joelle de dos au coussin vert 1995 original lithograph by Jean Jansem handsigned

By Jean Jansem

Located in Les Acacias GE, GE

Jean Jansem (1920-2013) Joelle de dos au coussin vert, 1995 Lithographie sur papier Arches Signée et justifiée 56 x 76 cm Album: La danse, 1999 Imprimeur: Arts-Litho, Paris Editeur ...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Antoni COSTA   Man  original Figurative Academician drawing painting
Antoni COSTA   Man  original Figurative Academician drawing painting

Antoni COSTA Man original Figurative Academician drawing painting

By A. Costa

Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL

man. original figurative academician drawing painting. framed Barcelona, 1904 - Barcelona, 1965 It was formed in Buenos Aires, in the Circle of San Lucas of Barcelona and the FAD. H...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Carbon Pencil

The Joshua Tree in the Canyon, Oil Painting
The Joshua Tree in the Canyon, Oil Painting

The Joshua Tree in the Canyon, Oil Painting

By Crystal DiPietro

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A Joshua tree stands among yellow desert bushes, its leaves appearing to glow under the bright sun. In the distance, a blue ridge and a mountain rise. Rugged fo...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Before the rain, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Before the rain, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Before the rain, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Located in Yardley, PA

Landscape with mountains, painted in the style of art impressionism art, art realism, art expressionism. The painting is painted in cool shades of gray and green. I have depicted i...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Large Judaica Oil Painting Samuel Grodensky Hasidic Rabbi, Children in Jerusalem
Large Judaica Oil Painting Samuel Grodensky Hasidic Rabbi, Children in Jerusalem

Large Judaica Oil Painting Samuel Grodensky Hasidic Rabbi, Children in Jerusalem

Located in Surfside, FL

Samuel Grodensky (1894-1974) "Hassidim" Hand signed and dated "Grodensky '62" u.l., Titled verso in pencil on stretcher 31" x 27" canvas , 35 1/2" x 31 1/2" framed. Large Fauvist Expressionist Jewish Family Oil Painting This is done in an Expressionist style in Fauvist colors. Influenced by the Judaic artists of the early Israeli...

Category

1960s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Spring pond 55X40
Spring pond 55X40

Spring pond 55X40

Located in Zofingen, AG

In crafting this piece, I sought to capture the serene essence of nature's renewal. The interplay of light and color reflects on the water's surface, inviting contemplation. Each str...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Irises in the Garden
Irises in the Garden

Irises in the Garden

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this vibrant fusion of emotion and color, I've layered acrylics, oil pastels, and colored pencils to craft a garden alive with movement. My brushstrokes echo expressionist fervor,...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Satin Paper

Natalie Bird, Summer Bloom, Original Still Life Floral Painting, Affordable Art
Natalie Bird, Summer Bloom, Original Still Life Floral Painting, Affordable Art

Natalie Bird, Summer Bloom, Original Still Life Floral Painting, Affordable Art

Located in Deddington, GB

Summer Bloom [2021] Original Flowers Mixed media on board Image size: H:45 cm x W:3 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:45 cm x W:30 cm x D:30cm Framed Size: H:45 cm x W:45 cm x D:3cm Sold Framed Please note that insitu images are purely an indication of how a piece may look Summer Bloom is an original painting by Natalie Bird...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Mixed Media, Board

Untitled 5 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern, Women
Untitled 5 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern, Women

Untitled 5 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern, 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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Souvenir of Resilience 3 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait Fashion
Souvenir of Resilience 3 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait Fashion

Souvenir of Resilience 3 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait Fashion

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 Gob...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Fantasy with Flowers 54
Fantasy with Flowers 54

Fantasy with Flowers 54

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 ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper

Ewie - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral, Modern, Women
Ewie - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral, Modern, Women

Ewie - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Floral, Modern, 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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Pond with pink lilies
Pond with pink lilies

Pond with pink lilies

Located in Zofingen, AG

In crafting this painting, I sought to capture the tranquility and ephemeral beauty of nature. Each brushstroke is a tender embrace of the lilies' delicate dance on the water's refle...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Fresh Flowers, Original Painting
Fresh Flowers, Original Painting

Fresh Flowers, Original Painting

By Robert Hofherr

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Flowers in different colors, shapes, and sizes unfurl from a brown vase. Artist Robert Hofherr draws inspiration from the works of Fauvist master Raoul Dufy. Th...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Green day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Green day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Green day, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Located in Yardley, PA

Flowers in the morning dew The most beautiful flowers are in the early morning. When the dawn just dawned, the petals began to gradually bloom, with the water lily, the lotus in ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Fruit Market in Haiti oil on canvas painting
Fruit Market in Haiti oil on canvas painting

Fruit Market in Haiti oil on canvas painting

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Title: Fruit Market in Haiti Artist: JM Gary Delly Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions (unframed): 9.8 x 7.9 in Dimensions (framed): 15 x 13 in Period: Approx. 1990-1999 Origin: Haiti Condition: Good, with frame included Description of the Artwork This painting captures a lively Haitian market scene, embodying the essence of Haitian primitivist art with its vibrant colors and thick impasto brushstrokes. The scene depicts a bustling marketplace where vendors and buyers interact, surrounded by piles of tropical fruits arranged in baskets. The figures are dressed in bright, contrasting tones, enhancing the painting’s dynamic and energetic atmosphere. The artist’s expressive, thick strokes and saturated colors create a sense of movement and liveliness. The composition is carefully balanced, with figures arranged in different planes, providing depth and perspective in an intuitive manner. The lush vegetation in the background and the bright blue sky add further context to the scene, situating it in the Caribbean setting. Haitian art, influenced by its African and Caribbean heritage, is known for its naïve style and depictions of everyday life. JM Gary Delly follows this tradition, celebrating the vibrancy of Haitian culture in his work. Comparable Artists This artwork shares stylistic similarities with renowned Haitian artists, including: Wilson Bigaud (1931-2010): A master of Haitian art, famous for his detailed depictions of everyday life and folklore. André Normil (1934-2015): Known for his naïve style and colorful representations of Haitian life. Laurent Casimir...

Category

1990s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Blooming garden by the pond
Blooming garden by the pond

Blooming garden by the pond

Located in Zofingen, AG

"In this oil painting, I poured my soul into capturing the enchanting interplay of light and shadows, where blooms dance above tranquil waters. Merging realism with impressionistic t...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Expressionist art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Expressionist art available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add art created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of orange, blue, purple, green and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Iryna Kastsova, George Grosz, Stephen Basso, and Marc Chagall. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Expressionist art, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available.