Figurative Paintings
1910s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1880s Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Porcelain
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1870s Italian School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
18th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Metal
1980s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1980s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Oil
Early 2000s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Wood, Oil, Cardboard
21st Century and Contemporary Conceptual Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Oil
1690s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Cotton Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
Mid-20th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1870s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Porcelain, Oil
2010s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
1980s Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
Early 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Wood, Oil, Cardboard
1910s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
16th Century Medieval Figurative Paintings
Wood Panel
Early 17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1670s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Metal
Early 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Wood, Oil, Cardboard
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1760s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
Wood, Paper, Watercolor
2010s Figurative Paintings
Metal
1980s Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
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.