Figurative Paintings
2010s Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 17th Century Renaissance Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Wood, Acrylic, Plywood, Spray Paint
Late 19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Modern Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil, Stretcher Bars
17th Century Byzantine Figurative Paintings
Copper
1940s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Masonite, Oil
Early 2000s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Post-Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Gold Leaf
Early 18th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Copper
1920s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1990s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil
1980s Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
Mid-20th Century American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Early 20th Century Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Ink, Gouache, Illustration Board
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Clay, Acrylic
2010s Symbolist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1920s Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Early 19th Century English School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Ink, Mixed Media, Gouache, Archival Paper
2010s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Color Pencil, Ink, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Early 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
19th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
Mid-20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
Late 19th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Gesso, Paper, Glue, Mixed Media, Oil, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
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.