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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
Farmers and Horses with Carts, Oil on Cardboard, Framed, 20th Century
Farmers and Horses with Carts, Oil on Cardboard, Framed, 20th Century

Farmers and Horses with Carts, Oil on Cardboard, Framed, 20th Century

Located in Genève, GE

Work on cardboard signed Golden wooden frame Dimension with frame : 66.5 x 76.5 x 4.5 cm This captivating work depicts a lively rural scene with three figures mounted on horses, in f...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Gravity of Light: Marine Chronicles
Gravity of Light: Marine Chronicles

Gravity of Light: Marine Chronicles

By Elena Lukina

Located in Zofingen, AG

A cornerstone of the 'Gravity of Light: Marine Chronicles' collection, this 2012 masterpiece marks the origins of Elena Lukina’s signature philosophy: "The Turquoise Silence." Painte...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Woman Surrealism Oil on Canvas Painting, Expressionist, Framed, 2000s
Woman Surrealism Oil on Canvas Painting, Expressionist, Framed, 2000s

Woman Surrealism Oil on Canvas Painting, Expressionist, Framed, 2000s

By Alvar Sunol Munoz-Ramos

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Artist: Alvar Suñol Title: Figurative Composition Date: c.2000 Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions (canvas): 81 x 100 cm (31.9 x 39.3 in) Framed: Yes Condition: Excellent Alvar Suñol –...

Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Tulips Red 3
Tulips Red 3

Tulips Red 3

Located in Zofingen, AG

"Tulips Red 3" bursts with life, a vivid floral painting where passion blooms in every detail. Red tulips take center stage, their vibrant hues energized by touches of blue, yellow, ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper

Don't Rush Life 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Africa Men
Don't Rush Life 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Africa Men

Don't Rush Life 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Africa Men

By Elijah Olanase

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Where am from Bandana was once a common style, we called it Big Boy Style, then it’s seem to me like a style or fashion only, because our elder brothers only allowed to used it but n...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Tennis Match, Expressionist Lithograph by Jim Jonson

Tennis Match, Expressionist Lithograph by Jim Jonson

By Jim Jonson

Located in Long Island City, NY

Jim Jonson, American (1928 - 1999) - Tennis Match, Year: circa 1980, Medium: Lithograph, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 300, AP, Size: 28 in. x 21 in. (71.12 cm x 53.34 ...

Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

You Become What You Think About - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Women
You Become What You Think About - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Women

You Become What You Think About - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Women

By Elijah Olanase

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 Eli...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

The Secret in Her Eyes, Romantic Realism Oil on Canvas Painting, 1980s
The Secret in Her Eyes, Romantic Realism Oil on Canvas Painting, 1980s

The Secret in Her Eyes, Romantic Realism Oil on Canvas Painting, 1980s

By Rosendo Gonzalez Carbonell

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Technical Sheet - Title: *The Secret in Her Eyes* - Artist: Rosendo González Carbonell - Technique: Oil on canvas - Dimensions: 24 x 20 inches - Framing: Unframed - Style: Romantic realism...

Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Marc Chagall, The Lovers under the Moon, from Tales of Boccaccio, 1950
Marc Chagall, The Lovers under the Moon, from Tales of Boccaccio, 1950

Marc Chagall, The Lovers under the Moon, from Tales of Boccaccio, 1950

By Marc Chagall

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Les Amoureux sous la Lune (The Lovers under the Moon), from Contes de Boccace, peintures du manuscrit des ducs de Bourgogne, Bibliotheque de l'Arsenal (Ms. no. 5193) (Tales of Boccaccio, Paintings from the Manuscript of the Dukes of Burgundy, Library of the Arsenal), Lavis de Marc Chagall, from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. VI, No. 24, originates from the 1950 issue published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris, and printed by Draeger Freres, Maitres-Imprimeurs, Paris, 1950. This tender and poetic composition exemplifies Chagall’s lifelong fascination with love, dream, and transcendence. Les Amoureux sous la Lune radiates intimacy and serenity, its nocturnal palette and floating forms capturing the timeless romance between lovers united under the moon’s luminous gaze. Executed as a lithograph on velin du Marais paper, this work measures 14 x 10.5 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of the Draeger Freres atelier, celebrated for its precision and tonal richness in printing fine artworks. Artwork Details: Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985) Title: Les Amoureux sous la Lune (The Lovers under the Moon), from Contes de Boccace (Tales of Boccaccio), Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. VI, No. 24, 1950 Medium: Lithograph on velin du Marais paper Dimensions: 14 x 10.5 inches Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1950 Publisher: Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris Printer: Draeger Freres, Maitres-Imprimeurs, Paris Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. VI, No. 24, published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, 1950 Notes: Excerpted from the album (translated from French), This Verve issue contains the lavis that Marc Chagall composed to illustrate Tales of Boccaccio's Decameron and the paintings on the same theme of the Manuscript of the Dukes of Burgundy preserved in the Arsenal Library. Marc Chagall executed the cover of this work which was completed printing on April 20, 1950 on the presses of Maitres-Imprimeurs, the Draeger Freres. About the Publication: This 1950 issue of Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, titled Contes de Boccace (Tales of Boccaccio), was devoted to the great Italian humanist Giovanni Boccaccio and illuminated manuscripts from the 15th century, interpreted and revived through the eyes of modern artists. Under the artistic direction of Teriade, Marc Chagall contributed a series of lyrical paintings and lavis that reimagined these Renaissance themes with his signature dreamlike color, tenderness, and spiritual symbolism. The issue juxtaposed Chagall’s contemporary vision with the rich heritage of medieval illumination, bridging centuries of artistic imagination. Printed by the master craftsmen of Draeger Freres, the publication stands as a testament to Verve’s tradition of uniting art, literature, and history in one luxurious volume that celebrates the continuity of human creativity from the Middle Ages to modernity. About the Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985) was a Belarus-born French painter, printmaker, and designer whose visionary imagination, radiant color, and deeply poetic symbolism made him one of the most beloved and influential artists of the 20th century. Rooted in the imagery of his Jewish heritage and the memories of his childhood in Vitebsk, Chagall’s art wove together themes of faith, love, folklore, and fantasy with a dreamlike modern sensibility. His unique style—merging elements of Cubism, Fauvism, Expressionism, and Surrealism—defied categorization, transforming ordinary scenes into lyrical meditations on memory and emotion. Influenced by Russian icon painting, medieval religious art, and the modern innovations of artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Georges Braque, Chagall developed a profoundly personal visual language filled with floating figures, vibrant animals, musicians, and lovers that symbolized the transcendent power of imagination and love. During his early years in Paris, he became an integral part of the Ecole de Paris circle, forming friendships with Amedeo Modigliani, Fernand Leger, and Sonia Delaunay, and his creative spirit resonated with that of his peers and successors—Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray—artists who, like Chagall, sought to push the boundaries of perception, emotion, and form. Over a prolific career that spanned painting, printmaking, stained glass, ceramics, and stage design, Chagall brought an unparalleled poetic sensibility to modern art, infusing even the most abstract subjects with human warmth and spiritual depth. His works are held in the most prestigious museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Centre Pompidou, the Tate, and the Guggenheim, where they continue to inspire generations of artists and collectors. The highest price ever paid for a Marc Chagall artwork is approximately $28.5 million USD, achieved in 2017 at Sotheby’s New York for Les Amoureux (1928). Marc Chagall Les...

Category

1950s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Bird on a branch (Cyornis rubeculoides)
Bird on a branch (Cyornis rubeculoides)

Bird on a branch (Cyornis rubeculoides)

By Elena Lukina

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this oil painting, infused with expressionism and realism, I captured the vivid essence and delicate poise of a small bird perched on a branch. The soft, blended background in gre...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

AGONY
AGONY

Robert PhilippiAGONY, c. 1920

$600Sale Price|20% Off

AGONY

Located in Santa Monica, CA

ROBERT PHILIPPI (Austrian 1877-1959) KNEELING NUDE. c. 1923 (Chrastek, Widder 2019, p. 162, N° 461) (in Rifkind Collection, LACMA: From a portfolio of 1...

Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Woodcut

"Der Hirte" original woodcut

"Der Hirte" original woodcut

By Richard Seewald

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: original color woodcut. Catalogue reference JH 771. Published in 1919 for Genius. Image size: 9 1/2 x 7 inches (240 x 178mm), on wove paper with full margins. This print is f...

Category

1920s Expressionist Art

Materials

Woodcut

Air Tulips: Mixed, paper, acrylic, oil pastel, 57x81cm
Air Tulips: Mixed, paper, acrylic, oil pastel, 57x81cm

Air Tulips: Mixed, paper, acrylic, oil pastel, 57x81cm

Located in Zofingen, AG

‘Air Tulips’ is an immersive journey into the very heart of a bloom. In this large-format mixed media work (57x81 cm), the tulips are not just flowers—they are a vibrant, breathing f...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper

Moment of the Evening, Oil Painting
Moment of the Evening, Oil Painting

Moment of the Evening, Oil Painting

By George Peebles

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The seascape painting captures the quiet beauty of the coast just before sunset. Sharp blades of grass frame the foreground while calm blue water stretches towa...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Storm
Storm

Storm

Located in Zofingen, AG

In creating this piece, I sought to capture the tumultuous yet mesmerizing dance of the sea with the sky. Utilizing the vigor of expressionism blended with soft touches of impression...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard

French Expressionist Sludgy Green & Brown Landscape Very Thick Oil Impasto
French Expressionist Sludgy Green & Brown Landscape Very Thick Oil Impasto

French Expressionist Sludgy Green & Brown Landscape Very Thick Oil Impasto

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Green Landscape French artist, indistinctly signed, dated verso 1985 oil painting on canvas, in wooden frame canvas: 10 x 17 inches wooden frame: 9.5 x 16 inches provenance: private ...

Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Farm Garden Sunflowers by Gustav Klimt, Das Werk lifetime collotype, 1908-1912
Farm Garden Sunflowers by Gustav Klimt, Das Werk lifetime collotype, 1908-1912

Farm Garden Sunflowers by Gustav Klimt, Das Werk lifetime collotype, 1908-1912

By Gustav Klimt

Located in Chicago, IL

Original collotype created from Gustav Klimt’s Farm Garden With Sunflowers, painted in 1913. Published and edited by Verlag H.O. Miethke and printed by k.k. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Vienna, in an edition of 300. Between 1908 and 1914, H.O. Miethke published Das Werk Gustav Klimts...

Category

Early 1900s Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper

Moving On, Lithograph by Benny Andrews
Moving On, Lithograph by Benny Andrews

Moving On, Lithograph by Benny Andrews

By Benny Andrews

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Benny Andrews, American (1930 - 2006) Title: Moving On Year: 1980 Medium: Lithograph on BFK Rives, signed, titled and numbered in pencil Edition: 275 Size: 30 in. x 22 in. (...

Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Sun, Sails, Sea
Sun, Sails, Sea

Sun, Sails, Sea

Located in Zofingen, AG

NOT STRETCHED. You'll receive it rolled, in a TUBE. Ready for stretching. I recommend stretching your painting in a local custom framing shop or gallery. It will be the most affordab...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

"THE LONG WALK HOME" DEBRA BENDITZ TEXAS ARTIST COWBOY/VAQUERO

"THE LONG WALK HOME" DEBRA BENDITZ TEXAS ARTIST COWBOY/VAQUERO

Located in San Antonio, TX

Debra Benditz (Born 1957) Texas Artist Image Size: 15 x 12 Frame Size: 24 x 20.5 Medium: Oil on Canvas, Signed "The Long Walk Home" We will only ship in the Continental United State ...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil

Sea. Sailboat.
Sea. Sailboat.

Sea. Sailboat.

By Elena Lukina

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this piece, I sought to capture the serene dance between sky and sea, interspersed with the graceful ballet of a sailboat. Infused with the essence of expressionism and the delica...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

This is One not Two - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women
This is One not Two - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women

This is One not Two - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women

By Josue M Pierre

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 Josue M...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Vintage American New York City Bridge Cityscape
Vintage American New York City Bridge Cityscape

Vintage American New York City Bridge Cityscape

By Simon Gaon

Located in Buffalo, NY

A gorgeous New York cityscape. Beautifully framed in a silver gilt wooden floater frame. Measuring: 23 by 31 inches overall and 22 by 30 inches image alone. Excellent condition, read...

Category

20th Century Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Unwinding Lady, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Unwinding Lady, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Unwinding Lady, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By Carmen Tyrrell

Located in Yardley, PA

Second painting in a series of three, showing three different postures of female figures resting and unwinding. The colours used are predominating blue with some pink and white sugge...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Roses in vase
Roses in vase

Roses in vase

By Elena Lukina

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this piece, I sought to capture the ephemeral beauty of nature, using the giclée print medium to convey the delicate dance between light and shadow. My brushstrokes breathe life i...

Category

2010s Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée

Jar from Samarkland, Alice Neel
Jar from Samarkland, Alice Neel

Jar from Samarkland, Alice Neel

By Alice Neel

Located in Fairfield, CT

Artist: Alice Neel (1900-1984) Title: Jar from Samarkland Year: 1982 Medium: Lithograph on Arches paper Edition: 77/175, plus proofs Size: 38 x 28 inches Condition: Excellent Inscrip...

Category

1980s Expressionist Art

Materials

Lithograph

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.