Figurative Paintings
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Board, Watercolor
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
Early 19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Glass
Early 20th Century Pre-Raphaelite Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
Early 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
Early 20th Century Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
16th Century Mannerist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Panel, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Panel, Acrylic
1980s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Late 20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
1990s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Wax, Canvas, Oil, Newsprint
1880s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
Early 2000s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor, Mixed Media
1990s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
20th Century Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
19th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Late 19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Chalk, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1940s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas
18th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas
1930s French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
18th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas
1620s French School Figurative Paintings
Alabaster
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.