Figurative Paintings
2010s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1980s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Cotton, Oil
Mid-19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
1870s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century Tonalist Figurative Paintings
Glue, Mixed Media, Oil, Spray Paint, Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
Late 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
16th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
Mid-17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1910s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Early 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Mid-18th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1860s Barbizon School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Oil
1990s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
Early 1700s English School Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
Late 19th Century Italian School Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Oil
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1850s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1970s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil
1950s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Illustration Board
1980s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil Pastel, Laid Paper
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1940s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1940s Figurative Paintings
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.