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.
Expressionist Oil Painting Paris Scene View Architectural Visionism Olivier Foss
By Oliver Foss
Located in Surfside, FL
"Street Scene" by Olivier B. Foss is an iconic artwork representational of mid-century French Expressionist painting. The artist's personal visionary style is at once gestural, power...
Canvas, Oil
3 Whisper of the Adriatic Venice Biennale 2026 Project
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
THE PROJECT: INDEPENDENT PAVILION VENICE 2026 This work is a cornerstone of the "In Minor Keys: The Turquoise Silence" series — a large-scale artistic manifesto created specifically ...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
$674Sale Price|40% Off
Jean Jansem (1920-2013), Les trois masques, 1980, Lithograph on paper
By Jean Jansem
Located in Les Acacias GE, GE
Jean Jansem (1920-2013), Les trois masques, 1980, Lithographie sur papier Arches justifiée Signée en bas à droite 76 x 55 cm CR Jansem, 1984, n°451 "Dans mes dernières lithograp...
Paper, Lithograph
Crepe-Myrtle 2, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A crepe-myrtle tree blooms with delicate flowers that resemble colorful confetti. Its leaves sway gently in the breeze, glowing softly in the summer sunlight. E...
Oil
$3,850
Fruit Trees by Gustav Klimt, Das Werk lifetime landscape collotype, 1908-1912
By Gustav Klimt
Located in Chicago, IL
Original collotype created from Gustav Klimt’s Impressionist Fruit Trees landscape, painted in 1901. 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...
Paper
Rise and Shine, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Soft morning light bathes winter trees in a warm glow. A house peeks out from behind the branches, partially hidden within the landscape. Minimal detail is used...
Acrylic
Azalea and Dogwood, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
In a vibrant yard, pink flowering trees and yellow bushes flourish, partially concealing a two-story house with their lush foliage. The bright morning sunlight ...
Acrylic
$2,958
Among the Wildflowers. Original Large Landscape Oil Painting on Italian canvas.
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Among the Wildflowers" captures a serene moment in a wild meadow, depicting a quiet connection between two figures. The artist skillfully blends expressionism, impressionism, and re...
Canvas, Oil
Anima and Animus. Carl Jung, psychology, man and a woman, couple, bird
Located in Oslo, NO
"Anima and Animus" is an oil painting from Alter Ego series, inspired by Carl Jung’s analytical psychology. The series explores the inner world of the self — the tension between diff...
Canvas, Oil
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
Bulb Vase - 21st Century, Contemporary, Still Life, Abstract, Plants, Flower
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 Pierre ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Mid-Century French Feutre on Paper. Tea time In the Kitchen.
By Jean Arène
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
$520Sale Price|20% Off
Blue Sky - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract Expressionism, Modern, Interior
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 Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
BERATUNG
Located in Santa Monica, CA
KATHE KOLLWITZ (German 1867 -1945) BERATUNG, 1895 (1945) (Klipstein vii/vii) Etching and aquatint, 1895 (Later Imp), Image 11 ½” x 7", sheet 19 x 13 ¾”. Unsigned, with the von de B...
Etching, Aquatint
$2,100
Raventos SHEET MUSIC Violin original expressionist acrylic paintig
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Partituras original expressionist acrylic paintig. RAVENTÓS Mª Assumpció – (San Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona 1930). Raventos trained at the elite Sant Jordi School of Fine Arts in Bar...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
$136Sale Price|20% Off
Swiss Mountain by Karl Speglitz - Watercolor 13x17 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper Dimension with pass 31.7 x 24 cm
Watercolor
Triptych "Ocean of possibilities"oil abstraction of Volskya Lilya.
Located in Zofingen, AG
Triptych "Ocean of possibilities"oil abstraction of Volskya Lilya. Do all artists have equal opportunities? Is talent an illusion or a gift from God? Whose paintings will remain in t...
Canvas, Oil
$1,600Sale Price|20% Off
My Mind: Expressionist Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Unframed
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 Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
Still life with peonies
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I sought to capture the effervescence of nature's transient beauty. I used oil to express the delicate vibrancy of peonies, with my brushstrokes blending impr...
Canvas, Oil
$236Sale Price|75% Off
Odalisque Watercolour on Paper, Nude Female Figure, Late 20th Century
Located in Cotignac, FR
Late 20th Century watercolour on paper of a naked female figure before an open window. Signed bottom right but as yet not deciphered. Presented in carved, white painted wood frame. ...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
$1,015Sale Price|30% Off
Women Carrying Baskets with Children, Figurative Gouache on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
Figurative gouache painting on paper of four barefoot women dressed in tribal patterned garments carrying baskets and children, by an unknown artist (...
Laid Paper, Gouache
Portrait of a Geisha
By Roland Strasser
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Roland Strasser (1895-1974) "Japanese Geisha" Signed lower right Oil and gold leaf on canvas, measures: 76 x 46 cm In fine white-wash wood frame. ...
Gold Leaf
Morning in a sunny vineyard
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I captured the vibrant energy of a sunlit vineyard at dawn, blending impressionism and realism to evoke warmth and renewal. The golden hues reflect the morning ligh...
Canvas, Oil
$2,040Sale Price|20% Off
Resilience -21st Century Contemporary Figurative Portrait, Woman against Nature
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 Ogu...
Canvas, Acrylic
$650Sale Price|72% Off
MId Century Animal Portrait: "Rooster" Pierre Bosco (1909-1993)
By Pierre Bosco
Located in SANTA FE, NM
"Rooster" Pierre Bosco, (1909-1993) Gouache on paper 10 x 9 (18 x 14 frame) inches Pierre Bosco showed an interest in art at an early age. His commitment and dedication to painting...
Paper, Gouache
Swan Original impasto Miniature oil painting for living room
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Swan" captures the delicate strength and fleeting beauty of a ballerina's dance. I poured my passion for movement and grace into every brushstroke, using oil on canvas to highlight ...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Landscape with meadow
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In creating this painting, I infused my passion for nature's raw beauty and the tranquility of open meadows. The expressive strokes of oil paint capture the warmth of sunlight cares...
Canvas, Oil
"Song of Gold" (2024) by Leigh Ann Van Fossan, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Leigh Ann Van Fossan's "Song of Gold" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a large field with a cloudy sky during golden hour. Van Fossan was born in Vail, Colo...
Oil, Board
Kinetic Motion: 18x24cm Impasto Oil on Canvas Panel (2024)
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Kinetic Motion" is a vibrant 2024 original oil study from the prestigious series Gravity of Light: Marine Chronicles. Created as an intimate 18x24 cm work on professional canvas pan...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$1,880Sale Price|20% Off
Reflection -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Fashion, Women
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 Gal...
Canvas, Oil
$1,600Sale Price|20% Off
Resilience - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women, Africa
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 Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,680Sale Price|20% Off
Bohemian - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Surrealism, Africa, Women
By Elisha Nyong
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
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 ...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
Morris Katz Set of Three of Original Seascape Oil Paintings C.2001
By Morris Katz
Located in San Francisco, CA
Morris Katz (Ukraine / New York 1931-2010) Set of Three of Original Seascape Oil Paintings c.2001 A nice collection of original oil paintings by Morris Katz. Seagulls flying over crashing waves. Each painting measures 5" x 7" One frame measures 7" x 9" The other two frames measure 8" x 10" Signed, dated and framed by Morris Katz Very good vintage condition Offered as a matching trio only Morris Katz (born Moshe Katz on March 5, 1932 – November 12, 2010) was a Polish-American painter. He holds two Guinness World Records as the world's fastest painter and the world's most prolific artist. He has also been called the "King of Schlock Art" and the "King of Toilet Paper Art" because of a novel means of painting he developed using a palette knife and toilet tissue...
Oil
$414
Contemporary Expressionist portrait woman acrylic on canvas "Silent Power"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Silent Power" is a contemporary expressionist portrait by French artist Natalya Mougenot, infused with elements of Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, and Modern Naïve Art. It forms par...
Canvas, Acrylic
Romance of the sea 21X30
By Elena Lukina
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...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$496Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-20th Century French Expressionist Landscape River and Colorful Mountains
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Expressionist Landscape signed gouache painting on artist paper painting: 9.75 x 12.75 inches provenance: private collection, England condition: very good and sound condition Descr...
Gouache
$2,080Sale Price|20% Off
Love and Bond 3 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Whites, Black
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
A better society is not built solely by wealth or power, but by shared values. By the courage to love without condition, the strength to treat all as equals, and the wisdom to honor ...
Canvas, Oil
"Männlicher Kopf" original woodcut
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: original woodcut. Printed in Germany in 1917 for Die Aktion; this impression is from the deluxe edition of 100 on Bütten laid paper. Catalogue reference: Schapire 202. Image ...
Woodcut
Contemporary abstract expressionist vivid acrylic portrait on paper "True self"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary expressionist, figurative abstract portrait was created by French artist Natalya Mougenot as part of her ongoing series devoted to the human face—not just as a like...
Paper, Acrylic
Philosopher
Located in Zofingen, AG
Series "THE ADVENTURES OF THE RED CAT RAMSES" CAT WORLD (500+) In my painting, I used acrylics and oils to express the playful yet philosophical reprieve of a colorful cat taking...
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
5 Waiting for the Tide Venice Biennale 2026 Project
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
THE PROJECT: INDEPENDENT PAVILION VENICE 2026 This work is a cornerstone of the "In Minor Keys: The Turquoise Silence" series — a large-scale artistic manifesto created specifically ...
Canvas, Oil, Linen
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
My Brother - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Men, Colour Pattern
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 Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
Onigele Yii Oil Painting of Black Woman in Ankara Head Tie
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The painting "Onigele Yii" depicts a striking black African woman wearing a vibrant Ankara head tie, known as gele, in the Yoruba language. Rendered with oil on canvas, the artwork c...
Fabric, Oil, Canvas, Acrylic
Schloss Kammer Lake Attersee II by Gustav Klimt, Das Werk collotype, 1908-1912
By Gustav Klimt
Located in Chicago, IL
Original collotype created from Gustav Klimt’s Schloss Kammer on Lake Attersee II (Das Werk Gustav Klimts), originally painted in 1909. Publishe...
Paper
9 Frequency 432 Oil Painting on Canvas, Expressionist, Unframed, 2010+
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
THE PROJECT: INDEPENDENT PAVILION VENICE 2026 This work is a cornerstone of the "In Minor Keys: The Turquoise Silence" series — a large-scale artistic manifesto created specifically...
Canvas, Oil
10 Through the Mist of Time Venice Biennale 2026 Project
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
THE PROJECT: INDEPENDENT PAVILION VENICE 2026 This work is a cornerstone of the "In Minor Keys: The Turquoise Silence" series — a large-scale artistic manifesto created specifically ...
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
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...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
$1,640Sale Price|20% Off
African Boy IV Painting, Expressionist Acrylic on Canvas, 21st Century
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
African Boy is a series of paintings by talented artist Faith Gbadero. This series of Artworks capture the response and attitudes of African young adults...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,500
'Camille IV', Fauve Figural of Young Woman, California Post Impressionist Oil
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed verso, 'Ant McNaught', (American, 1952-2026), titled 'Camille VI', and dated 2020. A substantial and vibrant, Fauve study of the head of a young woman, composed in scumbled shades of coral, jade, azure and pink. and contrasted against a terracotta background. This California Post-Impressionist and Abstract Expressionist artist studied at the Esalen Institute with Erin Gafill and Tom Birmingham...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,214Sale Price|20% Off
Vue sur la Ville au Toit Rouge / View Over the City of Red Roofs
Located in London, GB
Vue sur la Ville au Toit Rouge (View Over the City of Red Roofs), oil on canvas, by Guy Le Péqueux (circa late 1960s). The artist channels his expressionist sensibility into a vivid,...
Canvas, Oil
Market scene
Located in Genève, GE
Work on panel Dimension with frame : 39 x 48.3 x 3.5 cm This work depicts a vibrant scene of a bustling market, captured with a dark, earthy palette that evokes a nostalgic atmospher...
Oil
Chevaux, 1928 - huile sur toile, 54x73 cm.
By Peter Pálffy
Located in Nice, FR
Huile sur panneau par Peter Pàlffy, représentant des chevaux. Dimensions avec le cadre: 77x99 cm Peter Pallfy est un peintre autrichien du XX siècle que a...
Oil
Coral Tulips Triptych
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this triptych, I poured my soul into each brushstroke, capturing the delicate, vibrant energy of coral tulips amid a dark backdrop. The contrast breathes life and passion into eve...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
"Red poppies and daisies in a vase" ( modern expressive floral painting)
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This modern colorful floral artwork "Red poppies and daisies in a vase " is full of vivid colors ( red, yellow, green, blue, purple) which are my tools of expression. I explore th...
Paper, Acrylic
"Death Takes The Children" lithograph by Käthe Kollwitz
Located in Soquel, CA
Bold print of "Death Takes the Children" by Kathe Kollwitz (German, 1867-1945). This piece is one of the Lithographic reproductions of the original lithographs, plate 9 from a series...
Paper, Ink, Lithograph
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
Between Sky and Soul -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative, Nature Modern Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This painting explores the harmony between nature’s vastness and the quiet strength of the human spirit. The subject’s calm presence stands against the backdrop of sky and water, sug...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
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
Constelación Del Caballo Menor, Bronze Tabletop Sculpture by Binkele
By Lina Binkele
Located in Long Island City, NY
Bronze sculpture by Lina Binkele is a modern expressionist rendering of a horse. In the classic tradition, her horse sculptures capture the wonder of the animal's anatomy and the ma...
Bronze
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
Africa Motherhood - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern
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 Gal...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic