Figurative Paintings
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1950s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Permanent Marker
Early 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Stretcher Bars, Linen
1920s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Paper
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Gold Leaf
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary French School Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel, Pastel
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Watercolor, Board
Artist Comments
A mom and her three kids walk toward a gentle surf on a fun summer vacation. Artist John Jaster paints a vibrant heartwarming family portrait under the bright s...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1940s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Warren Keating displays an image of a man riding a bicycle from an aerial view. "This painting was inspired by an early morning cyclist traveling on a de...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Watercolor, Color Pencil, Laid Paper
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Cubist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
18th Century French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood
Mid-20th Century Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Illustration Board
1890s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Cubist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Post-Modern Figurative Paintings
Wood, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Cubist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Wood, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Cubist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Panel
Mid-19th Century English School Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Pointillist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Late 19th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1920s Barbizon School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Pastel
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
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.