Figurative Paintings
Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Board
2010s Minimalist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1880s Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Enamel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Found Objects, Mixed Media, Acrylic
1970s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1820s English School Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1980s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Bamboo Paper
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil Pastel
1980s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Polyester, Oil
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Ink, Gouache, Pencil
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
1960s Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Tape, Acrylic, Archival Paper
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil Pastel, Oil, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Pencil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
1980s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
20th Century Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Gouache
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic
1980s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Burlap, Paper, Acrylic
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Coating, Varnish, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board, Canvas
Early 19th Century Naturalistic Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Cubist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Ink
20th Century Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil Pastel, Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
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.