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.
"Woman with a Cigarette", Hugo Scheiber (1873-1950)
Located in Paris, FR
Hugo Scheiber (1873-1950) was a Hungarian painter of Jewish origins. He started as a self-taught artist. He was initially inspired by Impressionism before evolving towards Expression...
Gouache, Cardboard
Lost is a Lovely Place to Find Yourself
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
I realized nobody is coming to save you unless you save yourself! Light at the end of the tunnel awaits only those who dare to try again each time they fail Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist IDORENYIN UMANA...
Canvas, Oil
H.O. Miethke Das Werk folio "Water Snakes II" collotype print
By Gustav Klimt & K.K. Hof-und Staatsdruckerei
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Water Snakes II, no. 9 from the fourth installment of Das Werk Gustav Klimts The last painting Klimt exhibited with the Secession before resigning, Water ...
Paper
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
MUSIC ROOM with HARP - INTERIOR oil large painting 100x70cm /40x27.5in FRAMED
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Music Room with Harp" Oil on canvas. Part of Interior series. Large original, one-of-a-kind, painting 100x70cm / 40x27.5in Shipped stretched and framed. 1st dibs covers up to $200 o...
Canvas, Oil
Fantasy with Flowers 27
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
Lake and mountain landscape
Located in Genève, GE
Work on canvas
Oil
$318Sale Price|20% Off
FAMILY Signed Lithograph Abstract Portrait, People, Latin American Woman Artist
Located in Union City, NJ
Raquel Forner (1902-1988) Argentine woman painter and printmaker born in Buenos Aires in 1902 and died in the same city in 1988, regarded as one of the best Argentine female painters...
Lithograph
"Secret Garden" (2023) by Leigh Ann Van Fossan, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Leigh Ann Van Fossan's "Secret Garden" (2023) is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a path surrounded by colorful flowers and trees arching over. Van Fossan was born in...
Canvas, Oil
Mid Century Langostina Abstract Figurative by Harold Black New York 1960
By Harold Black
Located in Soquel, CA
Large scale and dramatic, ""Langostina, an abstract painting by Harold Black (American, 1913–1993). Signed lower right and on verso. Presented in giltwood frame. Image, 40”H x 22”W. ...
Canvas, Oil
Contemplation
Located in West Hollywood, CA
We are proud to present for the first time in more than twenty years, the paintings of Austrian/American artist Gustav Rehberger (1910–1995). G...
Mixed Media
Tennis Match - Jimmy Connors, Modern Lithograph by Daniel Bennett Schwartz
Located in Long Island City, NY
Daniel Bennett Schwartz, American (1929 - ) - Tennis Match - Jimmy Connors, Year: 1977, Medium: Lithograph, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 600, Image Size: 24 x 18 inche...
Lithograph
$416Sale Price|20% Off
Nude Flora Nudes across mediums
Located in Oslo, NO
This captivating artwork presents a serene and introspective portrayal of a reclining figure, seamlessly integrated into a lush, floral backdrop. The subject, rendered in warm, earth...
Canvas, Oil
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 ...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
Untitled 4 - 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...
Canvas, Acrylic
$10,396Sale Price|20% Off
To Marry, For My People, 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...
Lithograph
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, Athena Guides the Ship of Telemachus, The Odyssey, 1989 (after)
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph after Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Athene führt das Schiff des Telemachos (Athena Guides the Ship of Telemachus), from Homer, Die Odyssee (The Odyssey),...
Lithograph
E. Strache, Handzeichnungen folio, "Reclining Female Nude Glancing Up" Collotype
Located in Palm Beach, FL
after Egon Schiele (1890 – 1918), AUSTRIA “ART CANNOT BE MODERN, ART IS PRIMORDIALLY ETERNAL.” -SCHIELE Defiantly iconoclastic in life and art, Egon Schiele is esteemed for his mas...
Paper
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...
Mixed Media
$12,000Sale Price|20% Off
"Crouching Woman" Bronze Sculpture by Felipe Castañeda, Circa 1972, III/VI
Located in San Francisco, CA
Felipe Castañeda Mujer Agachada (Crouching Woman), 1972 Bronze, wood base 12 x 9.5 x 11.5 inches Edition III/VI Most recent owners acquired this limited-edition bronze sculpture fro...
Bronze
'Theater' — 1920s German Expressionism
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
A German Expressionist woodcut, with original hand-coloring in watercolor, depicting a parent and child watching a theatrical production; ...
Woodcut
The white bench
Located in New York, NY
Here the artist captures his wife leisurely sitting on a bench while in NYC and from his paintings of New York.
Oil
Help Has Come -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Painting, Past and Present
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This piece reflects the power of divine timing and the sudden arrival of long-awaited answers. A grayscale man waits at a train station, burdened with hope, symbolizing longing and ...
Canvas, Oil
Golden Sunset
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vivid painting, I unleashed a symphony of color through expressive brushstrokes, merging acrylic and oil to capture the ephemeral beauty of a dramatic sunset. It dances betwe...
Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
$3,350
Bohemian - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Surrealism, Africa, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"The Bohemian" is part of a new collection titled "Ode to Guardians and the Impuissant". It is a visual discourse on the frail but resilient nature of black women whom I call black h...
Linen, Oil
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, Mozart and Mussorgsky, 1963 (after)
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph after Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Mozart et Moussorgsky (Mozart and Mussorgsky), from the album Le plafond de l’Opera de Paris par Marc Chagall (The Ce...
Lithograph
Tulips Purple
Located in Zofingen, AG
I poured my emotions into this vibrant bloom cluster, using oil pastels and colored pencils to merge expressionism, impressionism, and pop art. The lively strokes convey energy and d...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
Bradley Chance Hays "Dance of the Wild" Modern Watercolor Horse Equine Painting
Located in Saratoga Springs, NY
"Dance of the Wild" is a 29.5x21.5 (framed dimensions) 21 x 15 (unframed dimensions) original a mixed media ink and watercolor painting by Bradley Chance Hays. An expressive waterco...
Ink, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Watercolor
'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...
Woodcut
'Seated Figure' — American Expressionism
By Max Weber
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Max Weber, 'Seated Figure", woodcut, edition not stated, 1919-20, Rubenstein 17. Signed in pencil. A fine impression on cream Japan paper; the full sheet with margins (2 to 3 1/8 in...
Woodcut
$14,000
"Untitled" by Shana Wilson - Large Figurative Seated Nude Woman Oil Painting
By Shana Wilson
Located in Carmel, CA
Shana Wilson (Canadian, born 1966) "Untitled" 2014 Oil Paint, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the back of the painting. About the Artist: Shana Wilson, born in Edmonton in ...
Oil, Canvas, Stretcher Bars
Mid-Century French Feutre on Paper. Tea time In the Kitchen.
Located in Cotignac, FR
Late Mid Century French feutre drawing on paper of a Provençal lady sitting in her kitchen by Jean Arène. Signed and dated bottom left. This artwork is a striking pen-and-ink drawing that vividly captures a cluttered interior scene filled with an assortment of teapots and household objects. The central figure, an elderly lady with an expressive face, sits at a table surrounded by an overwhelming array of details. The artist uses bold, dynamic lines to convey a sense of chaos and charm, creating an atmosphere of cozy clutter. The composition’s intricacy draws the viewer's eye around the room, showcasing...
Paper, Felt Pen
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 ...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$5,683Sale Price|20% Off
"Giuliana con cappello" Olio su tela cm. 50 x 60 1976
Located in Torino, IT
Opera espressionista ,sui blu e azzurri Edgardo CORBELLI (Torino, 1918 – 1989) Dal tradizionale impianto paesistico degli anni ‘30, la pittura di Corbelli sfocia in esiti tecnico-e...
Canvas, Oil Crayon
$4,796Sale Price|20% Off
Faith Ringgold, Police Brutality Viewed Thru Stained Glass, 2007
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite silkscreen by Faith Ringgold (1930–2024), titled Police Brutality Viewed Thru Stained Glass, from the folio Letter from Birmingham City J...
Screen
$2,100
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...
Canvas, Acrylic, Thread
$2,150
Self Love 4 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Mixed Media, African Woman
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. Signed on the front side and accompanie...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
"Gespenstersonate" original woodcut
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: original woodcut. Executed in 1920 for Das Kunstblatt, published in Berlin by Verlag Gustav Kiepenheuer. The total sheet measures 10 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (275 x 210mm); the ima...
Woodcut
The Silence of Fading Light, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Fading sunlight casts warm orange hues across the mountain, while cool pastel tones settle in the shadows and desert brush below. In the foreground, a mix of pl...
Watercolor
Italian village
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this artwork, I've poured my soul into capturing the essence of a rustic Italian landscape, where the vibrant poppy fields dance under the sun's warm embrace. The path meanders, i...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
Culture 3
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
$9,600Sale Price|20% Off
The Breakfast Room
Located in New York, NY
A great early date for this artist where he was coming out of the origins of expressionist and fauve works of art. A unique composition depicting a woman setting out a table laden w...
Masonite, Oil
Here I am
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 Gallery). At the heart of the artwork lies a young woman adorned in a striking red dress. The choice of red as the dominant color symbolizes strength, passion, and confidence. It serves as a visual representation of the artist's intention to empower and embolden the subject, inspiring viewers to embrace their own identities unapologetically. The woman in the red dress becomes a beacon of self-assurance, encouraging others to fully express themselves without fear or hesitation. "Here I Am" encapsulates the essence of celebrating one's individuality. The young woman's presence demands attention, her confident stance serving as a powerful statement of self-acceptance. The artwork encourages viewers to embrace the unique attributes, quirks, and qualities that make them who they are. It celebrates the beauty of diversity and underscores the importance of allowing oneself to shine authentically. Kayimahe Ishmael Zed...
Canvas, Acrylic
Fantasy with Flowers 65
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
A Girl Running Through Puddles Original impasto Miniature oil painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
This original oil painting captures a girl running through puddles under a vibrant red umbrella. The artist's passion comes alive through bold strokes that create a beautiful contras...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Lady In White 1 - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women, Modern
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
She holds on to her integrity and purity. Lady in white captures a desire to be hidden, but her presence is revealed through her unquenched innermost beauty. Lady in white captures h...
Canvas, Acrylic
Chief American Horse - Oglalla Sioux, Lithograph by Leonard Baskin
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Leonard Baskin Title: Chief American Horse - Oglalla Sioux Year: 1973 Medium: Lithograph, Signed and Numbered in pencil Edition: 100 Size: 41 x 30 inches
Lithograph
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, ...
Acrylic, Archival Paper
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, Ulysses and Eumaeus, from Homer, The Odyssey, 1989 (after)
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph after Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Ulysses und Eumaios (Ulysses and Eumaeus), from Homer, Die Odyssee (The Odyssey), originates from the 1989 German-lan...
Lithograph
Fantasy with Flowers 14
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Fantasy with Flowers" (series of 200+ pictures) On the paper acrylic, oil pastel, felt-tip pen, ink, gold leaf, pencils, silver,mixed media. Flowers are a smile of the sun that gi...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
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...
Canvas, Oil
Abstract Expressionist Embrace Earth Figurative
Located in Soquel, CA
Compelling abstract expressionist painting "Embrace" figurative by San Jose, California area artist Daniel David Fuentes (American, 20th Century). From a collection of his works. Un...
Canvas, Oil
Fantasy with Flowers 56
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
In the Company of Hills, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
From a high vantage point, rugged desert ridges and mountains unfold in vibrant spring colors. Loose washes of pink, green, yellow, and blue flow together, echo...
Watercolor
Tulips 5
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vivid expanse of warmth and vitality, I’ve unleashed my passion through oil pastel and colored pencil, embracing expressionism, impressionism, and pop art to provoke emotion....
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Satin Paper
Fantasy with Flowers 57
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
$796Sale Price|20% Off
Marc Chagall, The Christ at the Clock, from Chagall, 1957
By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Le Christ a l’Horloge (The Christ at the Clock), from the album Chagall, originates from the 1957 edition published by M...
Lithograph
Fresh Flowers, Original Painting
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...
Acrylic
"Femme Fiere" from the suite "Les Fleurs du Mal""
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Femme Fiere" from the suite "Les Fleurs du Mal" created in 1937/38, is an original color aquatint on Montval paper by renown French artist Georges Rouault, 1871-...
Aquatint
Lovers in Blue - Original Lithograph, Stamp signature
Located in Paris, IDF
Pierre AMBROGIANI (1907-1985) Lovers in Blue, 1974 Original Lithograph (Gourdon Workshop) Signed with the artist's stamp On vellum Arches 38 x 28 cm (c. 14.9 x 11 in) Excellent con...
Lithograph
Fantasy with Flowers 53
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