Serre Livre
20th Century Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Early 19th Century Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary French Animal Sculptures
Crystal
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Animal Sculptures
Bronze
2010s French Art Deco Animal Sculptures
Marble, Metal
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Bookends
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Paintings
Board
20th Century Japanese Japonisme Animal Sculptures
Bronze
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Paperweights
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Figurative Sculptures
Marble, Bronze
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Animal Sculptures
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Marble, Metal
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Metalwork
Bronze
Late 20th Century Unknown Islamic Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Empire Animal Sculptures
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Mounted Objects
Glass
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
Onyx, Bronze
Antique 1890s Japanese Meiji Animal Sculptures
Bronze
Finding the Right figurative-sculptures for You
Figurative sculptures mix reality and imagination, with the most common muse being the human body. Animals are also inspirations for these sculptures, along with forms found in nature.
While figurative sculpture dates back over 35,000 years, the term came into popularity in the 20th century to distinguish it from abstract art. It was aligned with the Expressionist movement in that many of its artists portrayed reality but in a nonnaturalistic and emotional way. In the 1940s, Alberto Giacometti — a Swiss-born artist who was interested in African art, Cubism and Surrealism — created now-iconic representational sculptures of the human figure, and after World War II, figurative sculpture as a movement continued to flourish in Europe.
Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon were some of the leading figurative artists during this period. Artists like Jeff Koons and Maurizio Cattelan propelled the evolution of figurative sculpture into the 21st century.
Figurative sculptures can be whimsical, uncanny and beautiful. Their materials range from stone and wood to metal and delicate ceramics. Even in smaller sizes, the sculptures make bold statements. A bronze sculpture by Salvador Dalí enhances a room; a statuesque bull by Jacques Owczarek depicts strength with its broad chest while its thin legs speak of fragility. Figurative sculptures allow viewers to see what is possible when life is reimagined.
Browse 1stDibs for an extensive collection of figurative sculptures and find the next addition to your collection.
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