Figurative Paintings
1950s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1950s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1940s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Ceramic, Glaze
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Early 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic, Board
Late 20th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
1940s Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Tonalist Figurative Paintings
Gesso, Canvas, Linen, Oil, Stretcher Bars
1970s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Charcoal, Watercolor
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media, Oil, Panel
1960s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1910s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink, Watercolor, Gouache
Early 20th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
Late 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Board
Late 20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century French School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
Late 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
1920s Figurative Paintings
Ink, Watercolor
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Late 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1910s Symbolist Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
1990s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Mixed Media
1990s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Paper, Lithograph
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s English School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
1930s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Renaissance Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink, Watercolor, Gouache
1960s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
1950s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, 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.