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Figurative Paintings For Sale
Grazing Horse - Paint by Sirio Pellegrini - 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Oil and tempera on cardboard realized by Sirio Pellegrini in 1960s. Hand signed. Includes a beautiful wooden frame cm. 66x54.5.
Category

1960s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Tempera, Cardboard

Coastal Scene from the Swedish West Coast (1923)
Located in Stockholm, SE
Anton Genberg’s coastal painting captures a tranquil harbor scene along Sweden’s west coast. In this 1923 oil painting, a cluster of weathered boathouses stands by the water’s edge, ...
Category

1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Parisian Street Scene at Twilight" Post War Impressionist Oil Canvas Painting
Located in New York, NY
A masterful oil painting depicting a view of Paris at twilight. This piece is a pertinent example of the works produced during the 20th Century by the artist with use of beautiful co...
Category

20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Basquiat Is A Champion - Art History Artwork on Newspaper by Gary John
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles street artist Gary John exploded onto the international art scene during the Art Basel Miami art fair in 2013. John’s playfully bold work quickly gained attention and he ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Acrylic, Newsprint

"Sacré-Cœur & Montmatre Paris" French Impressionist Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in New York, NY
Charles Blondin was known for his impressionistic street scenes depicting popular locations in Europe. This painting is a tremendously vivid and alive street scene from Paris in the ...
Category

Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Resting Boats oil on canvas painting spanish mediterranean seascape
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Title: Resting Boats Artist: Enric Beltrán Messa (1940–2006) Technique: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 15 x 18.1 in Support: Canvas, unframed Signature: Signed in the lower right corner P...
Category

1970s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Parisian Street Scene" Post-Impressionist Oil Painting on Canvas with Figures
Located in New York, NY
In this piece, the artist depicts his subject in an impressionistic way, capturing the busy streets of Paris from the 20th Century with much life. The artist mostly used oil with a p...
Category

Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

French Gouache Painting of Native American Antelope Hunt in Utah
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Gouache Painting of Native American Antelope Hunt in Utah by Emile GALLOIS (1882-1965, French) Signed: Yes Medium: Original gouache painting on thick unframed paper, Si...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Lately - Oil Painting Figurative Seascape Swimmer Dark Ocean Peach Clouds, 2021
Located in Kent, CT
Two figures float in a dark charcoal black ocean with their arms outstretched while cumulus clouds float in the coral sky overhead. Signed, dated and titled on verso. David Konigsbe...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Outdoor Cafe" Parisian Impressionist Oil Painting on Canvas Scene with Figures
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional impressionistic depiction of an afternoon at an outdoors Cafe in Paris by Mario Passoni, on a spring day with the busy activities of people walking and others seated ...
Category

Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Invictus - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Cultural Commentary, Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Out of the night that covers me,       Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be       For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance       I ha...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Torero and Bull bullfighter bullfighting oil painting
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Title: Torero and Bull Artist: José María Tuser Vázquez (1919-1986) Technique: Oil on canvas mounted on board Dimensions: 18.9 x 15 inches Framing: Unframed Art Movement: Costumbrismo, Figurative Expressionism Theme: Bullfighting Date of Creation: Second half of the 20th century DESCRIPTION The painting Torero and Bull depicts a classic bullfighting scene, where a matador, elegantly dressed in a golden and violet traje de luces, performs a pass with the cape while the bull, wounded with banderillas, bows toward the ground. The composition conveys dynamism and tension, emphasizing the drama of the moment with loose and expressive brushstrokes. The background is rendered in warm, diffused tones, contrasting with the deep black of the bull and the vivid hues of the cape. The thick brushwork and vibrant oil application enhance the sense of movement and emotion in the scene, a distinctive feature of Tuser Vázquez’s bullfighting paintings. ARTIST'S BIOGRAPHY José María Tuser Vázquez (Barcelona, 1919 - 1986) was a Spanish painter specializing in bullfighting themes. He trained at the School of Arts and Crafts in Barcelona, where he developed a strong foundation in drawing and painting. From 1947 onwards, he dedicated his artistic production to tauromaquia, creating posters, illustrations, and paintings that captured the intensity of the bullfighting spectacle. He was a regular contributor to the magazine El Ruedo and designed a series of postcards featuring traditional Spanish costumes for Editorial Artigas in the 1940s. His work has been auctioned numerous times and is highly valued by collectors of bullfighting art...
Category

1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

Portrait of Renaissance Lady Classical Medici Style Garden Italian Ornate Frame
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Renaissance Lady Roman School, circa 1890-1900 period oil on board, framed in original Italian ornate frame framed: 17.5 x 16.5 inches board: 11 x...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian School Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Le jardin de Daubigny Style of Vincent Van Gogh Daubigny's Garden by S. Goosson
Located in Soquel, CA
Le jardin de Daubigny Style of Vincent Van Gogh by Stephen Goosson The painting depicts the enclosed garden of Charles-François Daubigny, a French landscape painter whom Van Gogh ad...
Category

1950s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Illustration Board

Striking Original Oil Painting FEMALE NUDE IN AN INTERIOR Kitchen Sink School
Located in Cirencester, GB
ARTIST: Frank Johnson (1917-1998) British TITLE: “Female Nude In Bathroom Interior" MEDIUM: oil on canvas SIZE: 70cm x 59cm inc frame CONDITION: very goo...
Category

Late 20th Century Feminist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Lush - Contemporary abstract Painting
Located in DE
Chris Kamprad was born 1969 in the Spreewald region and lives as a freelance, self-taught painter in Berlin. Since May 2020, she has been working in her studio in Prenzlauer Berg. Fr...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

The Crossroads of Time
Located in Zofingen, AG
Series: Between light and silence An ancient aqueduct bridges past and present in this expansive landscape. Lines echo history, while light fractures across the surface with quiet dr...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Walther Purschke (1924-2011) - 20th Century Oil, Dutch Merchants
Located in Corsham, GB
A charming 20th century genre scene depicting 17th century merchants discussing tactics around a table. The warm, golden tones and careful attention to period furnishings, including ...
Category

20th Century Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

La Californie - Colorful Original Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
English artist Jonjo Elliot's large scale still life works are a collision of expressionistic fauvism and his collections encourage a youthful candor. Plants thrive in environments t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Contemporary abstract natural minimalist original textured mixed media two tone
Located in Maricopa, AZ
A truly special painting by the late Svetlana Shalygina. Titled "Overcast", this mixed media painting uniquely incorporates cracked texture with a soft, earthy palette. The neutral c...
Category

2010s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Acrylic

School of Paris, Sleeping Woman, Nude, Oil on Canvas
Located in Saint Amans des cots, FR
Oil on Canvas by Fortunato Pirazzini (1907-2003), School of Paris, c. 1950 - "Sleeping Woman, Nude". This captivating oil painting, titled "Sleeping Woman, Nude", was created by Fort...
Category

1950s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

French Cottages and Fishing Boats Reflected in Water Coastal Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Cottages and Fishing Boats Reflected in Water Coastal Painting by Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Signed: Yes Size: 8.75 inches (height) x 11.25 inches (width) Oil painting ...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Still Life with Fruit - Oil Paint by Sirio Pellegrini - 1968
Located in Roma, IT
Oil on cardboard realized by Sirio Pellegrini in 1968. Hand signed lower right. Includes a beautiful wooden frame, one-of-a-kind realized by the Artist cm. 59x68.5.
Category

1960s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Plywood, Oil

BLUE 2 by Ramon Enrich - Geometric landscape painting, architecture
Located in Paris, FR
BLUE 2 is an acrylic on canvas painting by Spanish contemporary artist Ramon Enrich, dimensions are 60 cm x 80 cm (23.6 × 31.5 in). The artwork is signed, sold unframed and comes wit...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Peach Communion" (2015) By Michael DeVore, Oil on Canvas Still Life Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Michael DeVore’s "Peach Communion" (2015) is a masterfully executed original oil on canvas painting that exemplifies the artist’s refined approach to classical still life. This conte...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

The Billiard Player oil on canvas painting
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Title: The Billiard Player Artist: Anonymous Technique: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 39.4 x 31.9 in Period: c. 2000 Condition: Good Art Movement: Contemporary Figurativism, Neofiguratio...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Parisian Street Scene by Champs Elysees" Impressionist Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful oil on canvas painting by Georges Gerbier. He was a French painter known for colorfully rich cityscapes depicting the times of her generation. This painting is a wonderfu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Fine 17th Century Florentine Baroque Old Master Oil Painting St. John Evangelist
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
St. John the Evangelist circle of Carlo Dolci (Florence, 1616-1686) oil painting on canvas, framed canvas: 30 x 25 inches framed: 36 x 32 inches condition: relined canvas, presented ...
Category

17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Morning Stillness"
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Morning Stillness" is my exploration of the quiet, meditative beauty of dawn. I wanted to capture the way the sky gently awakens, blending soft blues and warm golds as light emerges...
Category

2010s Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Bathers, Oil on Canvas, 1914
Located in Saint Amans des cots, FR
Oil on canvas by Roger GRILLON (1881-1938), France, 1914. "Bathers". With frame: 114x94 cm - 44.9x37 inches ; without frame: 92x73cm - 36.2x28.75 inches. 30F format. Signed lower lef...
Category

1910s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Homage to Picasso Acrylic on tablex board Abstract figurative
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Artist: Gustavo Úbeda Romero (Herencia, Ciudad Real, Spain, 1930 – São Paulo, Brazil, 1994) Title: Homage to Picasso Medium: Acrylic on tablex Style: Abstract Figurative with Pica...
Category

1970s Cubist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Board

A Figure In A Flame - Original Figurative Surrealist Portrait Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Iqi Qoror's surreal figurative paintings are arresting in their earthy palettes offset by pops of fluorescent textile embroidery. His artworks revolve around questions of trust, inte...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic

French Impressionist Provence Seaside Village with Sailboats on the Horizon
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Provence signed by Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Dated 99 Size: 13.5 x 16 inches Oil painting on board, unframed Inscribed verso ' Provence' Condition: The painting is in good condition...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

French Impressionist Village Riverside Scene with Church Spire
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Impressionist Village Riverside Scene with Church Spire by Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 13 inches (height) x 10.25 inches (width) Oil painting on card, unframed Con...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Parisian Grands Boulevards" Post-Impressionist Street Scene Oil Painting Framed
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful oil on canvas painting by the French artist, Salvadore Demone. Deomne was a Parisian painter known for his colorful cityscapes depicting the times of his generation. This...
Category

Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Heart Space - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Men, Love, Home
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Sam...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

"Parisian Street Scene w Horse & Carriage" Post War Impressionist Oil Painting
Located in New York, NY
A masterful oil painting depicting a view of Paris at twilight. This piece is a pertinent example of the works produced during the 20th Century by the artist with use of beautiful co...
Category

20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"After Work Walk Home" NYC Impressionist Central Park Snow Scene Oil Painting
Located in New York, NY
Impressionist New York City winter city-scene depicting a walk home after work in Manhattan, New York City. This piece is done in a most intimate, yet energetic way. Christopher is k...
Category

20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Pastel of Beachgoers with Sailboat
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Pastel of Beachgoers with Sailboat by Anne Marie Migette Perard (French 1902-1977) Medium: Pastel on unframed paper Size: 12.5 inches (heig...
Category

Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Pastel

Mid Century French Black Haired Nude Figure Bowed Into Her Knees
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Mid Century French Portrait Signed by Josine Vignon (French 1922-2022) Medium: Pencil/ charcoal/ink on artists paper, double sided Size: 9 (height) x 6.75 (width) Stamped Verso Con...
Category

Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Charcoal, Pencil, Ink

Dialogue with Nature #28 by Maho Maeda - Abstract painting, red tones
Located in Paris, FR
This work is full of gentleness and inspired by the observation of nature. It is a celebration of love, tenderness and passion between two beings. It could therefore be the ideal rom...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood, Cotton Canvas, Ink, Acrylic, Pencil

Still life - FRENCH SCHOOL - Lemon Starwars Chut les Barbizons!
Located in Zofingen, AG
⭐Lemon Starwars ⭐ This painting is a vibrant and textured representation of lemons, blending realism with expressive abstract elements. ⏩Subject & Composition⏪ The painting promin...
Category

Early 1900s Tonalist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Glue, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars

Stuart Somerville oil painting, Portrait study of a nude black woman
By Stuart Somerville
Located in Harkstead, GB
A really striking and stylish portrait of a young black woman, painted with great panache and intimacy. Very attractively presented in a matt and silver frame: ready to hang. Stuart...
Category

Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood Panel, Oil

James Longueville, British Impressionism, Brancaster Beach, large oil painting
Located in Harkstead, GB
Beautiful light in this beach scene at Brancaster on the north Norfolk coast, painted on a large scale this is an impressive and attractive piece. James Longueville (born 1943) Bran...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

French Gouache Painting of Pueblo Bread Baking in Taos New Mexico
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Gouache Painting of Pueblo Bread Baking in Taos New Mexico by Emile GALLOIS (1882-1965, French) Signed: Yes Medium: Original gouache painting on thick unframed paper, S...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Ornamental Cheetah III & Eternal Wonder III, Set of 2, Original painting
Located in Deddington, GB
The piece is part of a series loosely based on figurines I have come across in vintage shops, the figures often being moulded in one with the base, I thought it would be fun to do on...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Enamel

English 1970's OIL PAINTING Female Nude In An Interior by FRANK JOHNSON
Located in Cirencester, GB
ARTIST: Frank Johnson (1917-1998) British TITLE: "Female Nude In A Living Room Interior' SIGNED: unsigned, from the artists studio sale at Bonhams Chest...
Category

Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Hans HERRMANN (1858-1942) Watercolor Painting c1900 Dutch School
By Hans Herrmann
Located in Holywell, GB
Hans HERRMANN (1858-1942) Watercolour Painting c1900 An exceptional watercolour painting by one of Europe’s leading exponents Hans Herrmann. Signed, painted on paper, mounted on ca...
Category

Early 1900s Dutch School Figurative Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

The House at the End of the Road - Blue Original Floral Artwork on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carlos Gamez de Francisco’s "The House at the End of the Road" is a striking blend of hyperrealism, figurative surrealism, and imaginative narrative art. This 12-inch round acrylic p...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

The Cat Knows but Says Nothing
Located in Zofingen, AG
A woman sits in a sunlit room with soft geometric lines and a peaceful color palette of green, beige, and blue. A black cat rests on her lap, staring out the window at a calm, bl...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Acrylic

Aleanders in bloom .
Located in Zofingen, AG
The smell of the sea and blooming aleanders, light dresses and skirts, hats and jewelry. All these are bright impressions of summer. These impressions will stay with us forever. A pa...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Winds of Étretat
Located in Zofingen, AG
Series: Between light and silence Golden cliffs rise above the turquoise sea, their forms softened by the shifting wind. Beneath a lavender sky, the waves break into stained-glass mo...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

French school Medieval scene Landscape Oil painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
⭐Medieval scene from anonymous painter ⭐Structural Analysis :⭐ The artwork showcases a picturesque countryside setting with a central large tree dominating the composition. Medieva...
Category

Early 1900s Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Stretcher Bars

Splendor 2 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait Floral, Africa Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
By drawing insight from these wonderful art pieces, we can gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which splendor shapes our perception, values, Posture, and experiences. This ar...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Very Fine 19th Century French Belle Epoque Period Portrait of Lady in Interior
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Elegant Lady in Interior French School, circa 1890's period oil on canvas, unframed painting: 27 x 21.5 inches Provenance: private collection, Paris Condition: very good condition F...
Category

Late 19th Century French School Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Cape Maneuver bullfighter oil painting
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Title: Cape Maneuver Artist: José María Tuser Vázquez (Barcelona, 1919 – 1986) Technique: Oil on canvas mounted on board Dimensions: 19.7 x 23.6 in (50 x 60 cm) Date: Circa 1980s Signature: Signed "Tuser" in the lower left corner Condition: Excellent; thick, vibrant brushwork and vivid colors well preserved. 📝 Description This painting captures a dramatic moment in the bullfight — the classic verónica — as the matador gracefully halts the bull’s charge with a sweeping motion of the cape. The vivid contrast of magentas, blues, and golds intensifies the theatrical tension between man and beast. The composition is dynamic yet controlled, emphasizing the poise of the torero against the raw force of the bull. The expressive brushstrokes and thick impasto enhance the sense of movement, while the abstracted background ensures focus remains on the central figures. The piece is a striking blend of figuration and emotional energy, characteristic of Tuser’s taurine works. 👤 About the Artist: José María Tuser Vázquez José María Tuser Vázquez was a Spanish painter born in Barcelona in 1919. He studied at the Barcelona School of Arts and Crafts and began exhibiting in the 1940s. By 1947, he had fully devoted his career to bullfighting scenes, developing a distinctive figurative expressionist style with impressionist influences. He collaborated with the magazine El Ruedo, creating numerous illustrations and covers, and designed collectible postcards for Editorial Artigas. His work became well-known in Spanish artistic circles and is now part of both private and institutional collections, including the Club Taurino of London. His paintings have been auctioned internationally, reaching up to $3,000 depending on size and subject. His legacy is that of a painter who masterfully captured the emotion, tradition, and drama of the Spanish corrida. 🎨 Similar Artists José María Tuser Vázquez’s work shares thematic and stylistic elements with: Roberto Domingo – A pioneer of bullfighting art...
Category

1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

"Beneath the Blue Ridge"
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Beneath the Blue Ridge" is from my series dedicated to the beauty of Austrian nature. The beauty of nature and the lake where I live inspired me to create this series. Made by blend...
Category

2010s Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Victorian English Signed Oil Painting 1870's Rural Country Landscape Gilt Framed
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The English Rural Landscape by Charles Collins (British, circa 1870's) signed & dated oil on canvas, framed framed: 17 x 24 inches canvas: 12 x 18 inches Provenance: private collecti...
Category

1870s English School Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique Naked Woman French oil painting post impressionist female nude interior
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Antique naked woman, nude oil painting, post impressionist female nude signed and dated oil painting by French artist Fernand Labat, Nude in ...
Category

1920s French School Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Mid Century French Pencil Sketch Fashionable Sketches of Figures and Accessories
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Mid Century French Portrait Josine Vignon (French 1922-2022) Medium: Pencil/ charcoal /watercolour on artists paper, double sided Size: 9.5 height) x 6.25 (width) Stamped Verso Con...
Category

Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Charcoal, Pencil, 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.

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