Jimmy Gleason
1980s Figurative Paintings
Wood, Acrylic
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Plastic
1990s Folk Art Interior Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
Vintage 1920s French Folk Art Toys
Tin
Early 20th Century American Victorian More Lighting
Metal
Early 2000s Hong Kong Figurative Sculptures
Plastic
Antique Early 19th Century American Primitive Floor Lamps
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Books
Paper
2010s Realist Portrait Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Sculptures
Resin, Vinyl
Vintage 1950s North American Lanterns
Brass
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Rope
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Photography
Paper
Antique Early 19th Century American Candle Lamps
Bronze
Vintage 1970s Photography
Paper
Vintage 1920s North American Lanterns
Steel
Recent Sales
1980s Landscape Paintings
Archival Paper, Acrylic
1990s Landscape Paintings
Acrylic, Archival Paper
Finding the Right figurative-paintings for You
Figurative art, as opposed to abstract art, retains features from the observable world in its representational depictions of subject matter. Most commonly, figurative paintings reference and explore the human body, but they can also include landscapes, architecture, plants and animals — all portrayed with realism.
While the oldest figurative art dates back tens of thousands of years to cave wall paintings, figurative works made from observation became especially prominent in the early Renaissance. Artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and other Renaissance masters created naturalistic representations of their subjects.
Pablo Picasso is lauded for laying the foundation for modern figurative art in the 1920s. Although abstracted, this work held a strong connection to representing people and other subjects. Other famous figurative artists include Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. Figurative art in the 20th century would span such diverse genres as Expressionism, Pop art and Surrealism.
Today, a number of figural artists — such as Sedrick Huckaby, Daisy Patton and Eileen Cooper — are making art that uses the human body as its subject.
Because figurative art represents subjects from the real world, natural colors are common in these paintings. A piece of figurative art can be an exciting starting point for setting a tone and creating a color palette in a room.
Browse an extensive collection of figurative paintings on 1stDibs.