Figurative Paintings
20th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1910s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Early 20th Century French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1860s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Foil
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Paint, Fiberboard
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
1980s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Foil
2010s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1980s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
1990s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Foil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Pastel
1940s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Paper
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Tissue Paper
1950s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1980s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1940s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Varnish, Wood Panel
Mid-20th Century Romantic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1880s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic Polymer, Ink, Archival Ink, Acrylic
2010s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Cotton, Paper, Ink
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.