Figurative Paintings
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood
1950s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Enamel
Mid-17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paper, Wood Panel
1980s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Oil
Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 2000s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1940s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
1920s Expressionist 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.