Figurative Paintings
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
1940s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil, Acrylic
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Canvas, Oil
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Board
Late 19th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Oil Pastel
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Cotton, Paper, Ink
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Cotton, Paper, Ink
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
1940s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
Late 19th Century French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Graphite
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
Early 20th Century Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Mid-19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Sandstone, Stone
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Laid Paper
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Acrylic, Paper
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1950s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Street Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paper
1990s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
1940s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas
1940s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Board, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel
Early 20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Rag Paper, Pencil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel
1980s Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Plaster, Casein, Wood Panel
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.