Figurative Paintings
1910s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1980s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Pencil
1960s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paper, Tempera
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1950s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Cubist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s English School Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1960s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil, Stretcher Bars
Late 20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Crayon, Wax Crayon, Pen, Color Pencil
Late 20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Early 20th Century French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
1910s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Archival Paper
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 1900s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil, Stretcher Bars
1960s Figurative Paintings
Wood, Mixed Media
1950s Naturalistic Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1910s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paint, Oil
Late 20th Century Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Gouache
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Paper
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Illustration Board
Early 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
Late 20th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Ballpoint Pen
1950s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache, Newsprint
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Cotton, 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.