Modern Drawings
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chair — crafted 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
Oil Pastel on Paper Sketch by Ralph Dubin
By Ralph Dubin
Located in New York, NY
20th Century Oil Pastel on Paper Sketch by Ralph Dubin
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Anna Lesznai, Attributed To, Watercolor On Cardboard, Circa 1930
Located in Honnelles, WHT
"Lively market scene" Watercolor on cardboard, no signature cardboard dimensions: 29.5 x 39.5 cm
Category
20th Century Hungarian Modern Drawings
Materials
Canvas
Oil Pastel on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Located in New York, NY
Oil Pastel on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Six Signed and Dated Architectural Drawings, Italy, '40-'50
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Series of Six Architectural Drawings
Italy, '40 - '50
Signed and dated "P. Sinisi" (between 1948 - 1951)
Pencil on paper
black frame
67 x 52 x 1.2 cm (with frame)
48 x 33.5 ...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Teitelbaum Mixed Media Art on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Teitelbaum Mixed Media Art on Paper
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Mixed Media Art on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Mixed Media Art on Paper
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Mixed Media Sketch on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Mixed Media Sketch on Paper
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Juan Francisco Casas "the Italian Dream" Serie Drawing, 2009
Located in Ibiza, Spain
BIC blue colored pen on paper.
Serie "The Italian Dream" Nº2 Ed 50/75, 2009
Juan Francisco Casas Ruiz 1976: He has had numerous individual exhibi...
Category
Early 2000s Spanish Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Juan Francisco Casas "Lanotteromana 2" Serie Drawing, 2009
Located in Ibiza, Spain
BIC blue colored pen on paper.
Serie "Lanotteromana 2" Ed 50/75, 2009
Juan Francisco Casas Ruiz 1976: He has had numerous individual exhibitions highlighting (He) artbroken (Jonatha...
Category
Early 2000s Spanish Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
René Leroy, French Artist, Pastel on Paper, 1980s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
René Leroy (b. 1931), French artist. Pastel on paper. 1980s.
Visible dimensions: 12.5 x 12.5 cm.
Total dimensions: 30 x 24 cm.
In excellent condition.
Signed.
Category
1980s French Vintage Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
René Leroy, French Artist, Pastel on Paper, 1980s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
René Leroy (b. 1931), French artist. Pastel on paper. 1980s.
Visible dimensions: 12 x 10 cm.
Total dimensions: 24 x 18 cm.
In excellent condition.
Signed.
Category
1980s French Vintage Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
René Leroy, French Artist, Pastel on Paper, Dated 1992
Located in Copenhagen, DK
René Leroy (b. 1931), French artist. Pastel on paper. Dated 1992.
Visible dimensions: 14.5 x 9.5 cm.
Total dimensions: 24 x 18 cm.
In excellent condition...
Category
1990s French Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
René Leroy, French Artist, Pastel on Paper, 1980s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
René Leroy (b. 1931), French artist. Pastel on paper. 1980s.
Visible dimensions: 15 x 10 cm.
Total dimensions: 24 x 18 cm.
In excellent condition.
Signed.
Category
1980s French Vintage Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Pencil Sketch of Figures on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Pencil Sketch of Figures on Paper
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Oil on Paper Sketch
Located in New York, NY
Late 20th Century Oil on Paper Sketch
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Contemporary Hand Signed Original Print of Color Study of Man
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fantastic hand signed original print. A color story of a handsome man. Professionally matted and ready for you to add your frame. Acquired from ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Mixed Media on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Mixed Media on Paper
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Oil Pastel Sketch on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Oil Pastel Sketch on Paper
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Italian Modern Colored Tempera Work of Art Painted Signed by G. Maffei, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern colored tempera work of art painted signed by G. Maffei, 1970s
Abstract painting in tempera, painted with thick brushstroke with various colors, with chromed steel frame.
Work signed by G. Maffei, around 1970.
Good conditions.
Measures in cm 54x4x54cm
Beautiful painting, with large brushstrokes and numerous colors.
The particularity of blue contrasts perfectly with the frame which makes this work of art even more important and unique.
Dating back to the seventies, with this work you will feel like taking a leap...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Drawings
Materials
Steel
Kerstin Jönsson, Sweden, Pastel on Paper, "Lilies in a Jug"
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Kerstin Jönsson (1931-2000), Sweden. Pastel on paper. "Lilies in a jug". Dated 1975.
Visible dimensions: 62 x 43 cm.
Total dimensions: 74.5 x 55 cm
The frame measures: 2 cm.
Sign...
Category
1970s Swedish Vintage Modern Drawings
Materials
Other
Mixed Media on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Mixed Media on Paper
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Pencil Sketch of Bull Riders on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Pencil Sketch of Bull Riders on Paper
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Oil Pastel Figure Sketch on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Located in New York, NY
Oil Pastel Figure Sketch on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Category
20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Martin Kline "Untitled" Abstract Pencil and Gouache 1993 'Signed and Dated'
By Martin Kline
Located in New York, NY
Beautifully framed original artwork, Untitled, ink and gouache on paper, 7" x 10" sheet, by Martin Kline, American 1993 signed and dated on lower corner.
Martin Kline’s (b. 1961) ...
Category
1990s American Modern Drawings
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mixed Media on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Located in New York, NY
Mixed Media on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Expressionist Crayon Drawing by Bauhaus Artist Hans Kessler
By Hans Kessler
Located in New York, NY
Crayon drawing of a 1920s German theatrical scene by Bauhaus Artist, Hans Kessler.
Hans Kessler was a student at the Bauhaus Dessau and studied under B...
Category
Early 20th Century German Modern Drawings
Materials
Crayon
Hans-Henrik Husemann (*1943 Celle), "face to face", sepia on paper, 2021
Located in Münster, DE
Hans-Henrik Husemann (*1943 Celle), "face to face", sepia on paper, created in 2021, signed and dated, framed behind glass
30 x 40 cm
Born in 1943, grew up in Hamburg and Berlin,...
Category
2010s German Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Oil Pastel on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Located in New York, NY
Oil Pastel on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Oil Pastel on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Located in New York, NY
Oil Pastel on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Mixed Media Figure Sketch on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Located in New York, NY
Mixed Media Figure Sketch on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Pencil Sketch of Bull of Paper
Located in New York, NY
Pencil Sketch of Bull of Paper
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Oil Pastel on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Located in New York, NY
Oil Pastel on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Mixed Media Art on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Mixed Media Art on Paper
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Oil Pastel on Paper
Located in New York, NY
20th Century Oil Pastel on Paper
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
"Untitled" Mixed Media Sketch on Paper by Edith Isaac-Rose
Located in New York, NY
"Untitled" Mixed Media Sketch on Paper
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Pencil Sketch of Figure on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Pencil Sketch of Figure on Paper
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Pencil Sketch of Bull in the Ring on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Pencil Sketch of Bull in the Ring on Paper
Category
Late 20th Century North American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Oil Pastel Figure Sketch on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Oil Pastel Sketch on Black Paper
Category
20th Century Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Watercolour Drawing on Paper by Evelyne Luez, 1960-80.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Watercolour drawing on paper by Evelyne Luez depicting a landscape of Egypt with sailing ships, 1960-80.
20th century watercolour drawing of a landscape of Egypt with sailing ships ...
Category
20th Century French Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Modern Female Nude 'French School'
Located in Holmfirth, GB
Rare and unique charcoal drawing. The Artist is currently unknown. It formed part of the collection of the late Francois Catroux and his wife Betty Ca...
Category
Late 20th Century French Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Watercolour on Paper Depicting a City and its Canal, 1980.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Watercolour on paper depicting a city and its canal, 1980.
Watercolour on paper depicting a city and its canal, 1980.
H: 24cm, W: 32cm, D: 0.2cm
Category
20th Century French Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Juan Francisco Casas "Theparisianpicnic 2" Serie Drawing, 2009
Located in Ibiza, Spain
BIC blue colored pen on paper.
Serie "Theparisianpicnic 2" Ed 24/75, 2009
Juan Francisco Casas Ruiz 1976: He has had numerous individual exhibitions highlighting (He) artbroken (Jon...
Category
Early 2000s Spanish Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Cartoon Drawing of a Man with a Gun in the Jungle
Located in Queens, NY
Contemporary blue and gray cartoon of a man in the jungle crouched down firing a gun with text in the lower left corner reading "East of West"in white matting and a black rectangular...
Category
20th Century American Modern Drawings
Juan Francisco Casas "Aquafan" Serie Drawing, 2013
Located in Ibiza, Spain
BIC blue colored pen on paper.
Serie "Aquafan"
Juan Francisco Casas Ruiz 1976: He has had numerous individual exhibitions highlighting (He) artbr...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
“Nightwind” Abstract Ink Drawing by Syd Solomon
By Syd Solomon
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A black and white abstract drawing entitled “Nightwind” by Syd Solomon, c.1964. The piece features expressive movements created by long and harsh strokes and curves of dark ink. A na...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paint, Crayon
"Study for SWEEPS" by Jan Pieter Fokkens
Located in Chicago, IL
Inspired by images of deep space, computer compression algorithms, and early non-representational art, Chicago-based artist Jan Pieter Fokkens uses the tangible qualities of pattern and color to interpret unimaginable sights.
Entitled "Study for SWEEPS," this work offers a representation of the Sagittarius Window Eclipsing Extrasolar Planet Search, Hubble’s seven-day-long survey of 180,000 stars in order to detect extrasolar planets. Using data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Watercolor by Paul Renner
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
O/8182 - This is an unusual painting: the famous Austrian painter Paul Renner, on the occasion of his own wedding, painted a series of watercolors as a gift to friends invited to his wedding.
This one looks like steam coming out of a magic lamp...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Eugene Berman Collage in Original Frame
Located in New York, NY
This haunting image by Eugene Berman was painted on a sheet of paper cut in the shape of a heart, mounted to a paint-speckled ground, encircled with metal shavings, and placed in a frame of the artist’s own devising. Berman wrote the title, Radiograph of a Heart, on the back. It refers to the medical X-rays that doctors had recently come to rely on. Yet Berman’s point seems to be that while a heart can be monitored scientifically, the emotions associated with it lie beyond the power of medical science.
Russian by birth, Berman fled St. Petersburg during the Revolution and settled in Paris. Later, as a Jew, he fled the Nazi advance and took refuge in New York and Hollywood. His peace of mind, however, was shattered by the suicide of his wife, actress Una Munson (who played Belle Watling in Gone With the Wind). That distressing event — “Don’t follow me” she admonished in her suicide note...
Category
1940s French Vintage Modern Drawings
Tempera and Watercolor in Modern Taste
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
ST/724 - "Amphoras and mugs" : a modern taste for this beautiful unusual Italian watercolor signed ...Scribani and dated April 1965.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Jennifer Printz "Quietus I" Prints, Graphite and Inks on Antique Paper, 2017
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Jennifer Printz "Quietus" series of four prints blends photography, graphite, and Epson Ultrachrome inks on antique papers. The work is matted and framed in wood,...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drawings
Materials
Plexiglass, Wood, Paper
Jennifer Printz "Quietus" Prints, Graphite and Inks on Antique Paper, 2017
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Jennifer Printz "Quietus I and II" series of four prints blends photography, graphite, and Epson Ultrachrome inks on antique papers. The work is matted and framed...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drawings
Materials
Plexiglass, Wood, Paper
Jennifer Printz "Quietus" Prints, Graphite and Inks on Antique Paper, 2017
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Jennifer Printz "Quietus I and II" series of four prints blends photography, graphite, and Epson Ultrachrome inks on antique papers. The work is matted and framed...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drawings
Materials
Plexiglass, Wood, Paper
Jennifer Printz "Quietus II" Prints, Graphite and Inks on Antique Paper, 2017
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Jennifer Printz "Quietus II" series of four prints blends photography, graphite, and Epson Ultrachrome inks on antique papers. The work is matted and framed in wo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drawings
Materials
Plexiglass, Wood, Paper
Patrick Carrara Black Ink on Mylar Drawings, Appearance Series, 2013 - 2015
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary New York artist Patrick Carrara's black ink on Mylar drawings were created in 2013 - 2015. This is his latest series Appearance, which he started te...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drawings
Materials
Mylar
Patrick Carrara Black Ink on Mylar Drawing Triptych, Appearance Series, 2017
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary New York artist Patrick Carrara's Black Ink on Mylar Drawing Triptych was created in 2017. This is his latest series Appearance, which he started ten years ago and also ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drawings
Materials
Mylar
Patrick Carrara Garden of Silence Triptych, Graphite on Paper, 2009
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary New York artist Patrick Carrara's Garden of Silence Drawings was created in 2009. G.O.S. (2009-2010) was the first series using a mechanical pencil with a hard 5H graphi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
House in Kent Landscape Unframed Drawing Ink 100% Cotton Paper Intimist Modern
By Jan Hoogsteyns
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Belgian intimist painter and draftsman, Jan Hoogsteyns (1935), is best known for his dreamlike and foggy work using gray and greyed down poetic colors and tonalities. With mist-grey,...
Category
1990s Belgian Modern Drawings
Materials
Cotton, Paper, Acrylic
Genevieve Claisse, Untitled Geometric Composition, circa 1970
Located in Saint ouen, FR
Genevieve Claisse - Untitled geometric composition - circa 1970
Ink on arches paper
Measures: 56 x 75cm
Unique original work
Hand signed.
Category
1970s European Vintage Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Modern drawings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern drawings 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 drawings created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, asian art and furniture, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern drawings made in a specific country, there are North America, Europe, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original drawings, popular names associated with this style include Manuel Santelices, Diane Guyot de Saint Michel, Patrick Carrara, and Jennifer D. Printz. 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 drawings differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $50 and tops out at $57,787 while the average work can sell for $1,275.