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Expressionist Paintings

EXPRESSIONIST STYLE

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.

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Style: Expressionist
Gazing Boldly 2 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Men Hat, Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Gazing boldly is an act of defiance against the uncertainties of life. It embodies the spirit of facing challenges head-on, with unwavering confidence and clarity. This phrase evokes...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Sunflowers field 3D (18X24)
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I sought to capture the vibrant essence of life, channeling my emotions into each stroke. The bold sunflowers stand as symbols of joy and exuberance, their bright f...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

KOI 1
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this creation, I merged the fluidity of acrylics with the richness of oils, embracing both expressionism and impressionism to capture the spirited essence of a koi fish. Through s...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard

Contemporary abstract interior expressive acrylic painting on paper
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary expressive interior abstract artwork "The rhythm of life" by French artist Natalya Mougenot commands attention with its bold use of color and dynamic brushstrokes. ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Wolfenstein, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A stylized wolf emerges from bold, angular brushstrokes. Its cool blue and icy white fur contrasts sharply against the glowing red backdrop. Layered paint and s...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Reverte Albarracinoriginal painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
ANTONIO REVERTE OLIVA (Monteagua, Murcia, 1943 – Gavà, Barcelona, 2014). A self-taught artist, Antonio Reverte settled in Catalonia in 1961, in the Barcelona town of Viladecans. In ...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Jaume Terrassa BARCELONA realist original acrylic canvas
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
" BARCELONA" realist original acrylic canvas. Mallorcan artistic painter. He offers us a vision of the placid and calm reality, and a uniformity of tones, gives his works a manifes...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Raventos CADAQUES Small Vertical original expressionist acrylic canvas
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
RAVENTÓS Mª Assumpció – (San Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona 1930). Raventos trained at the elite Sant Jordi School of Fine Arts in Barcelona. Raventós expanded her studies in etching and...
Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Gouache Watercolor Painting, Nantucket Harbor Boats American Deaf Modernist Art
Located in Surfside, FL
Abstract harbor scene with boats, in bold, vivid colors on heavy mould made paper. Hand signed and dated, 1980 22 X 30 not frame Robert Freiman, deaf from birth, was born in March 1917 in New York City. He attended an oral program near his home and later transferred to the Lexington School for the Deaf when he was six. Early in his childhood, his love for drawing, painting and studying became apparent, and as an adult, he continued his studies in New York at the National Academy of Design, Pratt Institute, the Art Students League and the Parsons School of Design. In Paris, France he studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Bob Freiman was especially focused on painting portraits and figures in motion in various mediums, especially the mixed-media combination of watercolor, acrylic and pen. Among his subjects were acrobats, ballet dancers, cyclists and other athletes. He as well focused on abstracts for a time, discovering new media in his works with quick brushwork and expressive movements. In the latter part of his career, his style became abstract and surreal with images of metaphysical landscapes with architectural elements such as arches, towers, pyramids and castles floating in the air. The famed art critic Pierre Rouve wrote: “It is therefore refreshing to see them revitalized by the colourist wealth and virile handwriting of Robert Freiman, probably the best American water-colorist since John Marin. He worked in Provincetown and Nantucket and regularly exhibited there. He showed at Doll & Richards gallery of Boston alongside John Chetcuti, Lloyd Goodrich, Tod Lindenmuth, William Meyerowitz, Dwight Shepler...
Category

1980s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Gouache, Archival Paper

Liberation -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern Women, Plant
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

The Way I m Feeling - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, Mixed Media, Colours
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Ink, Acrylic

"Excavator" by William GOLIASCH - Oil on canvas 50x61 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Oil on canvas sold with frame Total size with frame 57x67 cm Signed William GOLIASCH is a Swiss artist born in 1922 and died in 1986. His works have been sold at public auction 100...
Category

1970s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Wheat and Poppies, Botanic Drawing, Expressionist Gestures, Watercolor Paper
Located in Barcelona, ES
This expressionist botanical drawing on paper captures the raw vitality of country wildflowers through fresh, vigorous gestures. Milano's drawings abandon precise realism in favor of...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Wax Crayon, Acrylic

Landscape with poppy field
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I've embraced the vivid, pulsating life of nature, capturing the wild, untamed energy of a poppy field. The strokes of oil paint bring out an almost tactile experience...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Love and umbrellas 60X80 oil painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've intertwined expressionism with impressionist touches to capture a couple's serene walk under a vibrantly hued autumnal canopy. The realism of the wet path ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

African Boy IV
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
African Boy is a series of paintings by talented artist Faith Gbadero. This series of Artworks capture the response and attitudes of African young adults...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Row of Plane Trees In Winter - Maussane-les-Alpilles
Located in London, GB
'Row of Plane Trees In Winter - Maussane-les-Alpilles', Provence, watercolour and pencil on art paper, by Yves Brayer (1946). A line of Plane trees greets visitors to almost every vi...
Category

1940s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Pencil

Fantasy with Flowers 26
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Fantasy with Flowers" (series of 200+ pictures)   paper 59x42cm  On the paper acrylic, oil pastel, felt-tip pen, ink, gold leaf, pencils, silver,mixed media. Flowers are a smile of ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper

"Pablo Picasso Kyiv"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
In this work, I embodied a dance of colors and emotions on canvas. Through oil and dedication, surrealism blends with figuration, expressionism meets futurism. I invite viewers into ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil

Poppy Fairy
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I immersed myself in the essence of nature's whimsy, capturing a figure enveloped by a sea of poppies. Inspired by expressionism and impressionism, I used bold ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Romance of the sea 30X30
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work reflects the romantic mood that we get while on vacation. Beautiful roses in the garden on the shore of the southern sea. White sails and blue sky, all this resembles a par...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Delicate peonies
Located in Zofingen, AG
Capturing the essence of nature's softness, I imbued every brushstroke with life, crafting a serene explosion of petals against a tranquil backdrop. Each creamy swirl of oil is a ten...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Venetian Gondolas 4
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I captured the tranquil essence of Venetian gondolas swaying gently in the water. Through expressive brushstrokes and vibrant blues, I aimed to evoke peaceful reflecti...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Rain in the city
Located in Zofingen, AG
In my creation, I aimed to capture the vibrancy and mood of urban life washed by rain. The chaotic beauty, the muffled sounds, the shimmering lights reflecting on wet surfaces—all th...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Let It Fail 3 - original abstracted figurative painting - contemporary artwork
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. With a fearless approach to abstraction, Let It Fail 3 exudes ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Apocalyptic
Located in West Hollywood, CA
We are proud to present for the first time in more than twenty years, the paintings of Austrian/American artist Gustav Rehberger (1910–1995). ...
Category

1960s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

David s Journey
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"David's Journey" by Joshua Salami is a captivating artwork that beautifully encapsulates the spirit of a young man embarking on a profound voyage of self-discovery, passion, and vis...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

David
s Journey
David
s Journey
$1,752 Sale Price
20% Off
Inner Peace - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women, Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Large Figurative Expressionist Oil Painting Rediscovered New York City Artist
Located in Surfside, FL
King and queen with clowns and jesters. Bold, colorful, expressionist masterful painting. Jonah Kinigstein (b. 1923) is an American Postwar & Contemporary painter. He works in a fig...
Category

20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

"Lighthouse of Peggy s Cove" By Sandra Pratt (2022), Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Lighthouse of Peggy's Cove" is a beautiful original impasto oil painting, created on linen panel by American artist Sandra Pratt, which depicts a lighthouse on a rocky peninsula, st...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Face and Phases - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, African Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Portrait of a Man by Swedish Artist Martin Eder, 1954, Gouache on Masonite
Located in Stockholm, SE
Martin Eder was a Swedish drawing teacher, artist and ceramicist. Martin was born on the island of Gotland and spent a lot of time there, he also lived in Sala. Martin was a curious ...
Category

1950s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Gouache

Codorniu Majorca expressionist acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
original expressionist acrylic painting. frame Painter and draftsman born in Ciutat de Mallorca in 1943. In 1959 moved his address to Barcelona. He was a student of the School of A...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Untitled -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Embroidery, Acrylic, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected crater from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist A...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Thread

Raventos 6 Gig Vertical Barcelona original expressionist acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
"Barcelona" original expressionist acrylic painting RAVENTÓS Mª Assumpció – (San Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona 1930). Raventos trained at the elite Sant Jordi School of Fine Arts in B...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic

"Welsh Coast at Ogmore" by the Sea Original Watercolor
Located in Soquel, CA
"Welsh Coast at Ogmore" by the Sea Original Watercolor Grey tones dominate this rocky coastal painting by John Addyman (Wales, 1929-2006), characterized by his use of muted tones, pr...
Category

1980s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Laid Paper

Seaside at Saint Raphaël by Ernest Voegeli - Oil on Canvas 46x61 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Ernest Voegeli is an artist who has found his path through a combination of solid technique and a clear, insightful approach to color, form, and composition. While his work is primar...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Unfinished Ram
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Robert Kitchen, American (1949 - 2009) Unfinished Ram, 2009 Acrylic on canvas, unframed, signed on back with the estate stamp. Robert Kitchen was born ...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Red poppies on blue
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil canvas, I've captured the vibrant spirit of nature. My brushstrokes dance between expressionism and impressionism, while touches of realism root the piece in a tangible w...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mountain stream
Located in Genève, GE
Work on cardboard Black wooden frame Dimension with frame : 59 x 45.5 x 4.5 cm This work masterfully captures a breathtaking mountain landscape. The scene features a tumultuous torre...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Gladiators"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
The painting reflects the philosophy of human impact on the planet. Gladiators, the first fighters for democracy, freedom, and justice. Sports. This is a new global art movement....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Romantic freshness 80X80 oil
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I attempted to capture the raw energy of passion and the serene embrace of love against the dynamic backdrop of nature's untamed beauty. The fluid brushstrokes ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

JULIEN MEUNIE. COAST. MAJORCA original watercolor painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
COAST. MAJORCA original watercolor painting. Julien was born in 1948 in Vichy, France. He studied art and theater in Clermont-Ferrand at the same time as finishing his degree in Fr...
Category

Late 20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Cardboard

Camille IV , Fauve Figural of Young Woman, California Post Impressionist Oil
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed verso, 'Ant McNaught', (American, born 1952), titled 'Camille VI', and dated 2020. A substantial and vibrant, Fauve study of the head of a young woman, composed in scumbled shades of coral, jade, azure and pink. and contrasted against a terracotta background. This California Post-Impressionist and Abstract Expressionist artist studied at the Esalen Institute with Erin Gafill and Tom Birmingham...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Walking along the sea
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I sought to capture the serene and reflective essence of a solitary walk along the coastline. Utilizing expressive brush strokes and vibrant blues, I depict the dyn...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Beautiful wave 40X60 oil on canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
For those who love the sea, any wave is the most beautiful. Every moment of the sea element is unique. He is unique and unique and this wave is also unique because it lives only for ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Romance in Paris 55X40 oil on canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've captured the essence of love and beauty inspired by the enchanting city of Paris. The vivid, soft brushstrokes of the blooming roses in the foreground are ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Blue Mountains 50X70
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I poured my soul into capturing the majestic serenity of nature. Every brushstroke of oil paint is a testament to the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, bl...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Planetary phallus"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
A painting as a prophetic thought. A philosophical view on the sum of humanity's actions and the future of the entire race. My images in my paintings come true in our real lives; it'...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Paper

Victim (When The Sky Seems So Blue)
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Pink sunset by the river
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In this oil painting, I've captured a tranquil riverside at dusk, evoking serenity. The brushstrokes blend expressionism with a touch of impressionism, creating a scene that's both ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Linen, Oil

Pond 60X40
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I've captured the serenity of nature through vibrant hues and emotive brushstrokes. Each petal and leaf carries the essence of impressionist dreams, blending in...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Contemporary vivid expressive still-life acrylic painting of fruits on paper
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary expressive artwork, "Cherries, Apples, and Flowers," by French artist Natalya Mougenot, is a vivid exploration of the beauty in everyday objects. Part of her “Still...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

French Modernist Large Floral Oil Painting Expressionist Flowers in Vase
Located in Surfside, FL
Frae measures 47 X 27 Image is 39 X 19. Henri Maurice D'Anty, listed French artist,Henry d'Anty 1910-1998 Born 1910 in Belleville France. Died in December 4 1998. Educated at the Aca...
Category

20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Expressionist Judaica Havdalah Oil Painting Jewish American Modernist Ben Zion
Located in Surfside, FL
Oil Painting of still life Havdalah scene with braided candle, spice tower box and kiddush cup. Born in 1897, Ben-Zion Weinman celebrated his European Jewish heritage in his visual ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Happy summer
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this expressive oil on canvas, vibrant hues dance with light and energy, capturing the essence of a sun-soaked meadow. The figure embraces the warmth, surrounded by the jubilance ...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Emancipation
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This painting conveys the enthusiasm for freedom of self-expression regardless of the restriction to decide what you are and what you want to express by the way you dress and the way...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Emancipation
Emancipation
$1,752 Sale Price
20% Off
Dandelions in flight 60X60
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this work, I've captured the ephemeral beauty of nature's cycle. I chose oils to convey the rich vibrancy and delicate dance of seeds on the wind. The artistry here lies in the dy...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Psalm 121 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Religious, Floral
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Anyone who went from nothing to greatness needed to trust God to watch over them. As the psalmist looked at the hills through which he travelled, his thoughts rose above the mountain...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sunflowers 40X30
Located in Zofingen, AG
Imbued with the warmth of a golden hour, my brushstrokes capture the essence of sun-kissed petals and the dance of light on leaves. This expression of nature's joy and resilience, wi...
Category

2010s Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Expressionist paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Expressionist paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, orange, purple, green and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Iryna Kastsova, Maria Asuncion Raventos, Masri Hayssam, and Evelyne Ballestra. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Expressionist paintings, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available.

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