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Modern Paintings

MODERN STYLE

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”

Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.

Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chaircrafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.

It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.

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Style: Modern
Period: 1960s
Pressac, South France Landscape French Riviera, 1960s, Watercolor Framed
By Paul Cézanne
Located in LA FERTÉ-SOUS-JOUARRE, FR
Large Watercolor Painting of a Southern France Landscape by Emile Pressac. The painting is well-framed under glass. Watercolor on paper. Marcel PRESSAC, born in Paris, in the Faubou...
Category

1960s Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Albert Chubac Painting, Mixed-media on paper, circa 1960, France.
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Albert Chubac Painting, Mixed-media on paper, circa 1960, France. Measures: Height 88 cm, width 62 cm, depth 1 cm. Albert Chubac was born in Geneva in 1920. After studying decorative...
Category

1960s French Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Albert Chubac, Composition, Mixed-media on paper, Stamped, circa 1960, France.
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Albert Chubac, Composition, Mixed-media on paper, Stamped, circa 1960, France. Measures: Height 1m73, width 70 cm, depth 1 cm. Albert Chubac was born in Geneva in 1920. After studying decorative...
Category

1960s French Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Albert Chubac, Composition, Mixed-media on paper, Stamped, circa 1960, France.
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Albert Chubac, Composition, Mixed-media on paper, Stamped, circa 1960, France. Measures: Height 1 m, width 70 cm, depth 1 cm. Albert Chubac was born in Geneva in 1920. After studying decorative art, then at the Beaux-Arts in Geneva, he obtained grants to travel to Italy, Algeria, Spain, Egypt and Greece, stages which will mark his work. He settled in 1964 on the Côte d ‘Azur in Aspremont in a very Spartan house, attracted by the light, the sun and the colors of nature. The year 1967 is the year of the establishment of the School of Nice. He will work and exhibit alongside Aman, César, Tinguely, Gilli, Ben, Rayse, etc ... In 1990, it was the consecration with the opening of MAMAC in Nice. Albert Chubac then becomes accessible to the general public. He will use solid primary colors, will develop modifiable structures and then develop the collages in three dimensions. Gradually, he broke away from his classical training and figuration to move towards abstraction through the encounters and influences of contemporary artists. Always in search of simplicity, He will radically limit the plastic means with a reduced palette, geometric shapes and simple gestures to concentrate on minimum conditions of possibility. His work, which lies between constructivism and geometric abstraction, is playful and imbued with the artist's joie de vivre. In 2004, following the major retrospective at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nice, he donated around one hundred works to the City of Nice. Albert Chubac died in 2008 in Tourrette-Levens, near Aspremont. Bibliography: - Albert Chubac, MAMAC Nice, Cultures Nice Editions, 2004. - Albert Chubac: exhibition, Nice, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, January 29 - May 16, 2004. - Albert Chubac, Galerie Harter, 2013. - Albert Chubac, a lifetime of artist, Patrick Boussu and Cynthia Lemesle, South Art éditions, 2021. During the workshop auctions in Nice and Marseille, the Harter Gallery acquired the largest part of his work. Personal exhibitions: - 1950: Personal exhibition in Athens at the Zappéion museum. - 1954: Exhibition at the Arman Gallery in Geneva. - 1956: Exhibition at the Galerie Connaître in Geneva. - 1957: Exhibition at the Galerie La Palette in Zurich. - 1958: Exhibition at the Galerie L’Entracte in Lausanne. - 1960: Exhibition at the World House Gallery in New York. - 1967: Exhibition at the Galerie Loo in Geneva, at the Salon Comparaison in Paris, Aspects in Chexbres in Switzerland. - 1968: “Paintings” exhibitions from March 30 to May 11 at the Galerie Alexandre de la Salle...
Category

1960s French Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Paint

Large Mural of the Szechenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest Hungary
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous large painting, wall mural of the Chain Bridge in Budapest Hungary. 10 feet x 4 feet with all the trimmings that surrounds the Danube River. Bridge was mostly destroyed by f...
Category

1960s Hungarian Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Very Large Huge Oil on Canvas Figurative Style Cubist Years 1950 1960
Located in Lyon, FR
Huge oil on canvas figurative in a style reminiscent of Matisse or Picasso dating from the 50s/60s. Multicoloured canvas representing a scene with characters in the nature in cubist ...
Category

1960s French Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Paint

Large Scale Tile Work by Harris G. Strong
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a master work by the artist Harris G. Strong, circa 1960. The pieces measures 43" x 73". In the original wooden frame.
Category

1960s American Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Ceramic

Large Toulouse Lautrec by Peter Max in Peach Pink, Signed and Framed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is the largest of the Toulouse Lautrec portraits by famed artist Peter Max in peach pink. Professionally framed, signed and numbered.
Category

1960s American Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

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Haitian Oil Painting on Canvas
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Large Oil on Board by David Hosie
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Very large oil on board by this important Glasgow artist, signed lower right. Born 1962. We have been in contact with David and he has told us that this work was one of a series of...
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Large Oil on Board by David Hosie
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Octave Nicolas Francois Tassaert Pastel on Paper
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Octave Nicolas Francois Tassaert (1800-1874) pastel on paper. Portrait of woman. Signed O.T 1854. 21 x 21 cm. Measure: The frame is 2 cm. wide. In good condition. The frame is in go...
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19th Century French Antique Modern Paintings

Octave Nicolas Francois Tassaert Pastel on Paper
Octave Nicolas Francois Tassaert Pastel on Paper
Free Shipping
H 9.06 in W 9.06 in D 0.79 in
Modernist Oil on Canvas "Six Tubas", James Miller, American, circa 1960-82
By James Miller
Located in Buffalo, NY
'Six Tubas' Bold Modernist work by Western New York artist,,,James Miller,, c.1960,,Wonderful use of color,,texture and space,,,
Category

1960s American Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

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19th C Framed Fraktur Watercolor Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful 19th C Fruktur by Martha Geist The poem on the Fruktur (watercolor) is re-written below. "If my name heaven is my station, This world is my habitation. Christ is my ...
Category

19th Century American Antique Modern Paintings

Materials

Wood

19th C Framed Fraktur Watercolor Painting
19th C Framed Fraktur Watercolor Painting
H 15.75 in W 13.5 in D 0.5 in
Large Hand Painted Oil on Canvas Painting of Arab Street Scene Signed Hassan
Located in Lisse, NL
Large size and slightly abstract Arab street scene painting. This larger size and very well executed painting is another one of our recent great finds. It may be abstract in style, ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Paintings

Materials

Linen, Plaster, Wood, Paint, Canvas

Caribbean Painting of a Boat with Figures in the Style of Orville Bulman
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Whimsical acrylic painting on canvas of a boat with a woman and three chickens in a basket executed in a delightful naive style, reminiscent of Orville Bulman...
Category

Late 20th Century Caribbean Modern Paintings

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Large Modern Abstract Oil on Canvas "Sound Wave" by Carlo of Hollywood
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large modern abstract oil on canvas 'Sound Wave' by Carlo of Hollywood.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas

English Countryside Landscape Oil Painting with Gold Frame
Located in Madison, MS
This framed oil painting of an English countryside would make a stunning addition to any room. The dull greens and blues of this painting make for a calm and soothing accent piece. T...
Category

20th Century English Modern Paintings

Materials

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Large Oil Painting on Canvas, Modernist Abstract, by Jim Bray, circa 1963
By Jim Bray
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large oil painting on canvas. Modernist Abstract, by Jim Bray, circa 1963. Charming image. Child-like. Great use of color, texture, space.
Category

1960s American Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Large Midcentury Oversize Oil on Canvas Painting of Tigers by Peter Colby
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Oil on canvas painting by artist Peter Colby. Large oversize canvas featuring two lions resting upon a patch of green grass. The background of this piece i...
Category

20th Century American Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Dutch Ice Skating Oil on Canvas by Van Buiksloot
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a glorious piece of original Dutch art, namely, a scene of Dutch ice skating oil on canvas by Van Buiksloot. J. Van Buiksloot was a Dut...
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Giltwood

Previously Available Items
Albert Chubac Painting, mixed media, circa 1960, France.
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Albert Chubac Painting, mixed media, circa 1960, France. Height 1 m, width 70 cm, depth 1 cm. Albert Chubac was born in Geneva in 1920. After studying decorative...
Category

1960s French Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Shiko Munakata Woodblock "Marriage" Japan, circa 1960s
Located in Oakland, CA
Amazing woodblock by one of the masters, Shiko Munakata circa 1960s. This one titled, "Marriage". In original frame, with linen mat. Hand signed in pencil with a matte glass. Shi...
Category

1960s Japanese Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Shiko Munakata Woodblock "Greenwich Village" Japan, circa 1960s
Located in Oakland, CA
Amazing woodblock by one of the masters, Shiko Munakata, circa 1960s. This one titled, "Greenwich Village". In original frame, with linen mat. Hand signed in pencil. Shiko Munaka...
Category

1960s Japanese Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Abstract Impressionist of a Costumed Figure Oil On Canvas C1965
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Beautiful rendering of a costumed figure, possibly a clown, in a Impressionist style. Great coloring and a period 1960s piece. Framed and signed J. Rolman.
Category

1960s North American Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Hardwood, Paint

"Composition #17" Oil on Canvas by Georgi Daskaloff
By Georgi Daskaloff
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This oil on canvas, entitled "Composition #17" by Georgi Daskaloff, uses abstract geometric shapes, creating an excellent representation of depth. The dominant cream palette allows t...
Category

1960s American Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

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Lithograph by Cobra Artist Mogens Balle, 1960s
By Mogens Balle 1
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Brutalist wall sculpture designed and manufactured by the Danish artist Henrik Horst, circa 1970s. Patinated metal construction mounted on a frame of wood.
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

French Modern Frederic Menguy Abstract Oil on Canvas California
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration: Midcentury Frederic Menguy abstract oil on canvas, Van Amstel Co, Culver City, CA. Dimensions: 28 1/4" H x 38 1/2" W x 1 1/4" D, Art 33 1/2" x 23 1/2" ...
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1960s American Vintage Modern Paintings

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Modern paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern paintings for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage paintings created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, wall decorations, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern paintings made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original paintings, popular names associated with this style include Danese Milano, Enzo Mari, Mimmo Paladino, and Custhom. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for paintings differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $75 and tops out at $50,000 while the average work can sell for $900.

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