Expressionist Art
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.
Late 20th Century Expressionist Art
Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Acrylic, Canvas
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art
Oil
1960s Expressionist Art
Etching
2010s Expressionist Art
Bronze, Iron
1950s Expressionist Art
Oil Pastel, Watercolor
Late 20th Century Expressionist Art
Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
1910s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Bronze, Iron
2010s Expressionist Art
Acrylic
1920s Expressionist Art
Woodcut
1950s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
1960s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
2010s Expressionist Art
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Wood, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Seen from above, this colorful view of a small village highlights the dynamic play of color. Bold primary hues, softened secondary shades, and muted tones overl...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
1980s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Paper, Charcoal
Artist Comments
Rural farm buildings serve as the focal point for this colorful Fauvist painting. The structures' forms connect with other compositional elements, each shaped a...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Acrylic
1960s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Wood, Maple, Screen
Artist Comments
A variety of flowers spring from a white vase, their shapes and orientations creating a lively sense of movement. The background accentuates the freshness of th...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Stone
2010s Expressionist Art
Masonite, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Architecture and human form merge in a fragmented cityscape. Artist Rodion Gilmitdinov captures the raw energy of urban life through expressive, gestural lines ...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Artist Rodion Gilmitdinov explores the tension between control and instinct. Combining oil stick, oil paint, acrylic paint, and charcoal, he constructs a portra...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Mixed Media
1970s Expressionist Art
Wood
Artist Comments
Artist Rodion Gilmitdinov captures a fleeting moment of balance and vulnerability as a lone surfer rides a breaking wave. Loose, spontaneous strokes of blue and...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Mixed Media
1950s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
Artist Comments
Bold, sweeping gestures portray a woman fetching water from a well. Rich reds, deep blues, and layered textures create movement and depth. Loose lines and visib...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Mixed Media
20th Century Expressionist Art
Acrylic
1950s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Oil, Wood, Wood Panel
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art
Lithograph
1920s Expressionist Art
Paper, Pencil
1950s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
1940s Expressionist Art
Pencil, Carbon Pencil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Acrylic
1920s Expressionist Art
Lithograph
Early 1900s Expressionist Art
Paper
1980s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Paper, Charcoal, Acrylic




