Figurative Paintings
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Pencil, Cardboard, Wood
2010s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Late 19th Century Naturalistic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Early 18th Century Rococo Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Acrylic, Paper
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Cubist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
17th Century Dutch School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Cotton Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
1990s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1980s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Cotton, Oil
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Wax, Oil, Panel
2010s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Foam Board, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel, Wax
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Wood, Oil
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Wax, Oil, Panel
1980s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Cotton, Oil, Canvas
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Panel, Wax, Oil
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Wax, Oil, Panel
Early 2000s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Wax, Oil, Panel
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1960s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Pastel, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
1930s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Gesso, Canvas, Linen, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
1990s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
Mid-20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Charcoal, Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
18th Century Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel, Wood Panel
Early 20th Century Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-17th Century Dutch School Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1910s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic, Canvas
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1910s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1950s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache, Oil
Figurative Paintings for Sale
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.