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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 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
Customizable Items Only
Bird Queen Digital Painting
Located in Milan, IT
Inspired by 17th century English portraiture, this digital painting portrays female intellectuality. Painted in a pop-surrealist manner, it depicts a woman whose body is in the shape...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Paintings
Materials
Cotton, Canvas, Wood
Flutter Digital Painting
Located in Milan, IT
This work celebrates the artist's dreamlike Pop Surrealism. It portrays a woman protected by the green cloak of Mother Nature. She is lost in imaginative thought, which soars to the ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Paintings
Materials
Cotton, Canvas, Wood
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing, Painting of Nothing Series, 2013
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Paintings of Nothing is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Painting...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing #9, 2011
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Painting of Nothing #9 is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Painti...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Walking in Are Place Digital Painting
Located in Milan, IT
Female sacredness is recurrent in this artist's pop-surrealist works. The splendid priestess crosses the metaphysical architecture of her palace, embodying the archaic mystery of femininity. On a panel of fine cotton pictorial canvas, the piece is complete with an American box frame in basswood. Signed and numbered limited edition...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Cotton, Wood
Sense of Motherhood Digital Painting
Located in Milan, IT
An intriguing limited edition artwork this digital pictorial piece represents the dreamlike transposition of the unfulfilled desire for motherhood. Two female figures, one with a bir...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Paintings
Materials
Cotton, Canvas, Wood
Nest Digital Painting
Located in Milan, IT
This Pop-Surrealist digital painting depicts a blue woodpecker nestled in a woman's hair, lost in happy thoughts. Viewed from behind, the female figure looks out at the leaden horizo...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Paintings
Materials
Cotton, Canvas, Wood
Affinità Elettive Digital Painting
Located in Milan, IT
This Limited Edition, Pop-Surrealist digital artwork is made by assembling photographs and illustrations into a collage. This sensual piece features two elegant, identically dressed ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Paintings
Materials
Cotton, Canvas, Wood
Masquerade Digital Painting
Located in Milan, IT
This digital painting symbolizes the restraints imposed by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. A woman's face is masked by a flutter of bird wings. Her gaze shines through, seeking freedo...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Paintings
Materials
Cotton, Canvas, Wood
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing #3L, 2013
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Painting of Nothing #3L is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Paint...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Comprementazione Digital Painting
Located in Milan, IT
Part of a signed and numbered Limited Edition, this Pop-Surrealist digital painting depicts the intimate bond between two female figures holding hands. A flock of bird passes by, representing their secret, shared imagination. Printed on high-quality cotton canvas mounted on dry spruce wood. Basswood box frame. "Certificate of Authenticity" included.
Year of Creation: 2015
Edition Number: 1/300
Artist’s Signature: Printed on the Canvas + original signature on Limited Edition Certificate...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Paintings
Materials
Cotton, Canvas, Wood
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing, Painting of Nothing Series, 2012
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Paintings of Nothing is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Painting...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing #29, 2012
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Painting of Nothing #29 is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Paint...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing #13M, 2011
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Painting of Nothing #13M is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Pain...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing, Painting of Nothing Series, 2012
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Paintings of Nothing is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Painting...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing #19, 2011
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Painting of Nothing #19 is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Paint...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing #14M, 2012
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Painting of Nothing #14M is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Pain...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing #25, 2011
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Painting of Nothing #25 is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Paint...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing #5, 2010
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Painting of Nothing #5 is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Painti...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing #15, 2011
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Painting of Nothing #15 is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Paint...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Full Moon Digital Painting
Located in Milan, IT
This stunning limited edition artwork is a digital pictorial piece made by assembling photographs and illustrations. The pop-surrealist artwork is inspired by the 1968 visionary film...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Paintings
Materials
Cotton, Canvas, Wood
Siamese Dream Digital Painting
Located in Milan, IT
All aspects of the this limited edition fine cotton pictorial canvas are perfectly mirrored. The woman, the moon and the fish are reproduced identically on both the right and left si...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Cotton, Wood
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing #5B, 2010
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Painting of Nothing #10 is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Paint...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing #10, 2011
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic Painting of Nothing #10 is made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. This piece is part of his ongoing Paint...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
Point of View Digital Painting
Located in Milan, IT
On a fine cotton pictorial canvas with an American box frame in basswood, this stunning limited edition artwork is a digital pictorial piece made by assembling photographs and illust...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Paintings
Materials
Wood, Canvas, Cotton
Ovum in Fabula Digital Painting
Located in Milan, IT
Inspired by Piero della Francesca's Brera Madonna, this Pop-Surrealist digital painting showcases the symbol of life, an egg, which has been transformed into a light-giving chandelier at the top right. A female figure caresses a feather in her hands, which represents the generating mother, center and fulcrum of the creative universe. Signed, number Limited Edition...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Cotton
Suspended Gaze Digital Painting
Located in Milan, IT
This superb art piece depicts a woman with closed eyes, holding a clock in her hands, marking the time. The eye, in the center of the dial, represents the personal vision of the succ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Cotton, Wood
Painted Canvas Figuring Parrots, Contemporary Work
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of painted canvas figuring two flying multicolored parrots on gilt and brown stripes background.
Linen raw canvas hand painted with natural pigments and background gilt with ...
Category
2010s Modern Paintings
Materials
Paint, Linen
'Title' Quilt Painting Wool Tapestry Textile Art, in Stock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Under the blanket project, Naomi Clark creates what she titles quilt paintings. She breathes new life into old wool and cotton camping blankets culled f...
Category
2010s American Modern Paintings
Materials
Wool, Cotton, Acrylic
William P. Montgomery Abstract Mixed Media Painting "Swamp Talk 1/2", 2015
By William P. Montgomery
Located in Miami, FL
William P. Montgomery Abstract Mixed Media Painting "Swamp Talk 1/2", 2015
Offered for sale is a mixed media (acrylic, charcoal, house paint on foam core) by artist William P. Mont...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Wood
Large William P. Montgomery Abstract Mixed Media Painting "Swamp Talk 2/2", 2015
By William P. Montgomery
Located in Miami, FL
Large William P. Montgomery Abstract Mixed Media Painting "Swamp Talk 2/2", 2015
Offered for sale is a mixed media on wood panel by American artist William P. Montgomery. This is th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Paper, Wood
"Meeting" Oil on Canvas with Backlighting by Artist Ricardo Casado
Located in Miami, FL
"Meeting" Oil on Canvas with Backlighting by Artist Ricardo Casado
Offered for sale is a large oil on canvas titled "Meeting" by Cuban American artist Ricardo Casado signed twice an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Canvas
"The Hug" Oil on Canvas with Backlighting by Artist Ricardo Casado, Dated 2018
Located in Miami, FL
"The Hug" Oil on Canvas with Backlighting by Artist Ricardo Casado, Dated 2018
Offered for sale is an oil on canvas titled "The Hug" by Cuban American artist Ricardo Casado signed t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Canvas
Richard Hirsch Encaustic Painting of Nothing Series, circa 2010 - 2012
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American ceramic artist Richard Hirsch's encaustic "Paintings of Nothing Series" #14, #16, #22 and #23 are made of ceramic raw materials, dry pigment and wax. Hirsch app...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Clay, Organic Material
"Carousel" Oil on Canvas with Backlight Option by Artist Ricardo Casado Signed
Located in Miami, FL
"Carousel" Oil on Canvas with Backlight Option by Artist Ricardo Casado Signed
Offered for sale is an oil on canvas titled "Carousel" with backlighting option by Cuban American arti...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Canvas
"Red Fury" Oil on Canvas with Backlighting by Artist Ricardo Casado Dated 2018
Located in Miami, FL
"Red Fury" Oil on Canvas with Backlighting by Artist Ricardo Casado Dated 2018
Offered for sale is a large oil on canvas titled "Red Fury" by Cuban American artist Ricardo Casado si...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings
Materials
Canvas
Painting "Morning Sun" 2013 Geometrical Acrylic Canvas by Cecilia Setterdahl
Located in Dubai, Dubai
About the painting “Morning Sun”
Stems from the early morning light beams of the sun that pierce the darkness
and dew in the fields.
About the artist:
Cecilia’s is working with a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Emirian Modern Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
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 wall decorations, folk art, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, canvas and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern paintings 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 paintings, popular names associated with this style include Richard A. Hirsch, Harry Hilson, Cecilia Setterdahl, and Peter Keil. 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 $25 and tops out at $166,872 while the average work can sell for $2,187.
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