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.
2010s Expressionist Art
Oil, Canvas
1910s Expressionist Art
Woodcut
1960s Expressionist Art
Oil
Early 1900s Expressionist Art
Oil, Canvas
Early 1900s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century Expressionist Art
Oil, Canvas
Early 2000s Expressionist Art
Linen, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Oil, Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Oil, Pigment
1980s Expressionist Art
Acrylic
20th Century Expressionist Art
Screen
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Expressionist Art
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Orchard trees stand in the distance, their foliage adorned in autumn's seasonal colors. Tall grass fills the foreground, blending seamlessly with the field. The...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic, Color, Giclée, Digital Pigment
Artist Comments
Olive, almond, and cherry trees adorn an orchard in Provence, France. Their white crowns merge, filtering the sunlight and casting dappled shade below. Artist J...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
Early 1900s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
1930s Expressionist Art
Paint
Artist Comments
A vibrant and lovely bouquet blooms on a calming blue background. Its overall effect is both soothing and captivating. Artist Ronda Waiksnis uses palette knives...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Simple forms define this English town, while bright and deep colors add to its visual appeal. Artist Robert Hofherr aims for the viewer to perceive a place wher...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
20th Century Expressionist Art
Screen
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Linen, Acrylic
Artist Comments
A woman sits, her hand cupping her face. Artist Sharon Sieban notes that sometimes people are not ready to answer the call, but coffee helps. Gestural strokes c...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Mixed Media
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Art
Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Watercolor, Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Watercolor, Gouache
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Acrylic
1940s Expressionist Art
Limestone
1990s Expressionist Art
Watercolor
Early 2000s Expressionist Art
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Oil, Canvas
2010s Expressionist Art
Acrylic, Canvas
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Docked boats feature compelling textures and unique color combinations, enhancing their visual appeal. The main focus of the composition shifts towards a series...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
1970s Expressionist Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Deep magenta, blush, and lush greens cascade in this abstract floral painting. The vibrancy of the flowers stands out against the neutral background, creating a...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A vibrant night sky stretches over the city. Ethereal blues mirror the celestial depths, while fiery oranges echo the birth of the stars. Geometric shapes and f...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Art
Acrylic
