Artist Proof Patrick Nagel

Patrick Nagel generated a series of 15 different commemorative silkscreens that were produced over a four-year period, which were later published after his death in 1984. Only one printed edition of each commemorative was done. Screen-signed by Nagel before going to print, today these commemoratives are widely collected, because of their beauty and high-quality printing.

The feeling of Patrick Nagel's prints and paintings is reminiscent of Japanese woodblock prints as well as of Art Deco styling, yet it is completely contemporary and universal in appeal. His synthesized components of graphic design, fashion illustration and a sensuous approach to painting the figure into a stylized personal vision altered attitudes toward illustrating fashions in the 80s.

In addition to paintings, Nagel created more than 60 graphic editions, posters, commemorative editions and several commissions for Playboy and Architectural Digest, as well as the 1983 Duran Duran album cover for what became the number one record in the world. Beginning with his distinctive work for Playboy, Nagel's reputation as a designer was well-recognized and he produced numerous magazine covers and illustrations over the years.

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Bring energy and an array of welcome colors and textures into your space by decorating with figurative fine-art prints and works on paper.

Figurative art stands in contrast to abstract art, which is more expressive than representational. The oldest-known work of figurative art is a figurative painting — specifically, a rock painting of an animal made over 40,000 years ago in Borneo. This remnant of a remote past has long faded, but its depiction of a cattle-like creature in elegant ocher markings endures.

Since then, figurative art has evolved significantly as it continues to represent the world, including a breadth of works on paper, including printmaking. This includes woodcuts, which are a type of relief print with perennial popularity among collectors. The artist carves into a block and applies ink to the raised surface, which is then pressed onto paper. There are also planographic prints, which use metal plates, stones or other flat surfaces as their base. The artist will often draw on the surface with grease crayon and then apply ink to those markings. Lithographs are a common version of planographic prints.

Figurative art printmaking was especially popular during the height of the Pop art movement, and this kind of work can be seen in artist Andy Warhol’s extensive use of photographic silkscreen printing. Everyday objects, logos and scenes were given a unique twist, whether in the style of a comic strip or in the use of neon colors.

Explore an impressive collection of figurative art prints for sale on 1stDibs and read about how to arrange your wall art.