Expressionist Paintings
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.
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
An array of colorful sailboats populate the scene. Their triangular shape serves as a visual motif, repeated and modified throughout to move away from strict re...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
An expressively painted bouquet blooms against a soft, neutral background. Its spontaneous strokes and muted colors exude a lively yet soothing energy. Artist R...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Inspired by the vibrant style of Raoul Dufy, this portrayal of UK monastery ruins transitions from realism to bold colors and lively brushwork, merging modern...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Gouache, Watercolor, Handmade Paper
Early 2000s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
1990s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
1960s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Paper, Wax
1980s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Early 2000s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Fabric, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
1930s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Bold colors, energetic rendering, and expressive paint application transform ordinary workboats. Adopting a Fauvist approach, the artwork avoids realistic detai...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Expressionist Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A New England seaport transforms into a stylized seascape through unusual colors, expressive strokes, and minimal details. One sailboat navigates the water whil...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Four key elements define the composition. The expansive sky, the horizon with hazy tree silhouettes, the colorful orchard, and the chilly pond form a captivatin...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Expressionist Paintings
Paper, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Oil
Early 20th Century Expressionist Paintings
Ink, Watercolor
1910s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Expressionist Paintings
Burlap, Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Oil
2010s Expressionist Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Oil
Artist Comments
With sunlight streaming in from the left, the trees engage in a playful banter about who gets the spotlight. Overlooking a small pond alongside the shrubs, they...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings
Acrylic