German Painting 1920s

The clothing style in the 1920s that most people think of first is the flapper style. Women who dressed in this style sported loose-fitting, short dresses, often outfitted with drop waists and fringe. Small cloche hats and headbands were signature accessories of the flapper look. During the decade, pleated tennis skirts and cardigan sweater sets left the courts and became staples of some women's everyday styles. For men, soft collars replaced stiff, starched ones, and simple single and double-button suit jackets worn without waistcoats became trendy. Trousers also took on a new shape with wider-cut legs, and Oxford bags gained popularity. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of 1920s apparel and accessories.

The iconic dresses from the 1920s are called flapper dresses. This name comes from the term flapper, which was used to describe young women during the period who enjoyed personal fulfillment and independence in American cities, particularly as they gained the right to vote and enjoy other freedoms previously reserved for men. Flappers danced at jazz clubs and upended most societal restrictions placed on women at the time, and fashion statements typically attributed to flappers included short “bob” haircuts, higher hemlines and other then-audacious style choices. Find a selection of flapper dresses on 1stDibs.

What 1920s furniture is called depends on its style. However, the most prominent design style of the decade was Art Deco. The term alone conjures visions of the Roaring Twenties, Machine Age metropolises, vast ocean liners, sleek typography and Prohibition-era hedonism. The iconic movement made an indelible mark on all fields of design throughout the 1920s and ’30s, celebrating society’s growing industrialization with refined elegance and stunning craftsmanship. Art Deco furniture often featured bold geometric lines, floral forms, shimmering mirrored finishes, sleek metal accents, and the use of expensive materials such as shagreen or marble as well as exotic woods such as mahogany, ebony and zebra wood. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Art Deco furniture.

The type of tile that was used in the 1920s was primarily ceramic. Many shapes were available, including basketweave, penny round, pinwheel, square and subway. Hexagon tiles, however, which are still on trend, have been in use in bathrooms since at least the early 1900s. The choice of hexagonal tiles is believed to have been tied to cleanliness, as the small pieces could stand up to aggressive cleaning and could be easily replaced if needed. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of tiles from some of the world's top sellers.

Flapper dresses from the 1920s came in a range of colors, although darker hues such as black and navy were immensely popular. Flapper dresses were cut with straight and slim silhouettes, were typically knee-length and had a lower neckline. They were often made from silk chiffon and featured beaded details. You’ll find a selection of 1920s flapper dresses from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Although many artists may fit this description, a famous German artist who painted realistic portraits is Wilhelm Leibl. As a printmaker and painter, Leibl worked during the second half of the 19th century and created many paintings of German peasants in traditional dress. Some of his most notable works include Three Women in Church, Die Dorfpolitiker, Farm Girl with a White Head Scarf and Die junge Pariserin (Die Kokotte). On 1stDibs, shop a wide variety of Realist art.

In the 1920s, engagement rings still looked like rings but were representative of a diverse range of styles and influences. Art Deco diamond ring designs took inspiration from the contemporary Cubist movement as well as from ancient Egypt – a revival sparked by the opening of King Tut’s tomb in 1922. Native American, African and Asian motifs also inspired jewelry pieces. Diamonds in square and rectangular shapes incorporating angular steps – like emerald cuts, Asscher cuts and baguettes – were set against black onyx, rubies, sapphires and emeralds to create color-blocking effects. Platinum, 18-karat gold, 14-karat white gold and sterling silver were some of the favored metals of the decade. Find a wide range of Art Deco engagement rings on 1stDibs.

Coco Chanel was considered one of the leading fashion designers in the 1920s and ’30s in Paris. The first Chanel shop was established in 1910 on rue Cambon by the young milliner Gabrielle Chanel, who had picked up the nickname “Coco” while working as a club singer. The boutique drew the attention of the Parisian fashion elite, who popularized her wide-brimmed Chanel Modes hats. Soon, she added a sportswear store in the Normandy resort town of Deauville, where Coco set the tone for her defining sense of style — traditionally masculine garments reimagined for feminine shapes, made from simple jersey fabric. Effortless and elegant, Chanel's designs promoted comfort and grace in women’s wear that had been dominated in the previous century by complicated layers of fabric and cumbersome corsets. She followed this success with a couture house, opened in 1915 in Biarritz. In 1926, Chanel introduced her first little black dress, reclaiming a color that had once been reserved for mourning and working-class women. That same decade, she debuted her perfume, Chanel No. 5, as well as the Chanel suit with a fitted skirt, inspired by the boxy lines of men’s clothing and employing a sporty tweed. During the 1920s, she also unveiled the predecessor for the 2.55 Flap bag, which remains one of Chanel's most popular offerings. Shop a large selection of Chanel apparel, bags and accessories on 1stDibs.

Hans Holbein the Younger was the German portrait painter of the 1500s known for his photographic-like realism. Due to his incredible skill, Holbein established himself as a successful court painter in England. In addition to painting, Holbein was an accomplished printmaker, and his prints circulated widely through Europe. Some of his most famous works include The Ambassadors, Portrait of Henry VIII and Portrait of Sir Thomas Moore. Shop a wide range of portrait art on 1stDibs.

Frank Stella is the artist who became famous for his series of black paintings in the late 1950s and early 1960s. These works featured bands of black paint separated by thin, precise stripes of bare canvas. At a time when contemporary painting was all about wild gestures, thick paint and formal abandon, the “Black Paintings” created a sensation. Explore a range of Frank Stella art on 1stDibs.

The artist George Catlin's paintings from the 1800s are considered a form of artistic documentation because he depicted what he saw during his travels across North America. Catlin produced many images of Native Americans living their daily lives. In so doing, he provided a glimpse of what life was like for Indigenous people before the rapid westward expansion of settlers forcibly disrupted their traditions and culture. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of George Catlin art.