Figurative Paintings
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Cubist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Early 1900s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Gouache
2010s Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
15th Century and Earlier Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Panel
2010s Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Late 18th Century Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Gouache, Handmade Paper
Early 1900s Aesthetic Movement Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Ink
20th Century Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Masonite, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 1900s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Masonite, Mixed Media
1950s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Tempera
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic, Wood Panel
1950s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
Pastel
1950s Figurative Paintings
Masonite, Paper, Mixed Media, Board
1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Oil, Board
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1930s Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Wood, Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Wood, Oil, Spray Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Plaster, Paper, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Wood, Acrylic
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Wood, Mixed Media
1890s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Wood, Mixed Media
1920s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel, Oil
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.