Figurative Paintings
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1980s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Board, Mixed Media
Early 1900s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century English School Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Ink, Gouache, Illustration Board
Late 20th Century English School Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 1900s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Ballpoint Pen
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board, Canvas
Early 20th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Dutch School Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1940s Realist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Ink, Gouache
1930s Realist Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Ink
Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Watercolor
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.