Figurative Paintings
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Board, Watercolor
1980s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic, Rice Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Late 20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Wax, Canvas, Oil, Newsprint
Early 2000s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor, Mixed Media
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Chalk, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Chalk, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Panel, Canvas, Acrylic
1620s French School Figurative Paintings
Alabaster
2010s Street Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
1880s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas
1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1960s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel
2010s Symbolist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paper
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Paper
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
1960s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Pencil, Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Board, Gouache
Early 20th Century Romantic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Coffee
1980s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Pastel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1990s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1990s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
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.