Figurative Paintings
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Modern Figurative Paintings
Lithograph
2010s French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1940s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Encaustic, Oil, Board
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Mixed Media, Board
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
1970s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Paper
1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Oil
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Paper
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Paper
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Tempera
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 2000s Modern Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Paper
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink, Pen
2010s Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Sandstone
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Street Art Figurative Paintings
Metal
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1920s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Pastel
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, India Ink, Oil, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Wood Panel
Early 2000s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
1860s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
1960s Figurative Paintings
Giclée
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil, Pencil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Sharon Sieben creates a stern portrait of a man who, despite his attempt to appear disinterested, finds himself unable to resist the allure of curiosit...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Street Art Figurative Paintings
Metal
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink, Pen
1940s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Ink, Archival Paper
2010s Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Outsider Art 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.