Figurative Paintings
1910s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Wood, Paper, Mixed Media
Mid-19th Century French School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1940s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Laid Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Early 19th Century French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 1900s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
Artist Comments
Artist Mary Pratt paints women parading with parasols, each unique in their own way. "Geishas intrigue me, and I never tire of capturing their beauty," says Mary. The intricate patterns of their kimonos stand...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
1890s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1930s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Wood, Oil
Mid-18th Century Italian School Figurative Paintings
Laid Paper, Ink, Watercolor
Early 19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1920s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Panel
Mid-19th Century Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
Mid-19th Century English School Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
1990s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century Romantic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
18th Century French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Post-Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic, Permanent Marker
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A family enjoys a cheerful picnic, radiating warmth, happiness, and connection. Vibrant hues, especially golden sunlight, and a bright blue sky, enhance the s...
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Illustration Board
16th Century Renaissance Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Early 20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Late 19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 1900s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board, Canvas
Mid-20th Century Cubist Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
1980s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 2000s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
16th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil, Panel
1960s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1920s Tonalist Figurative Paintings
Glue, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
18th Century Renaissance Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Cotton, Linen, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, 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.