Figurative Paintings
1670s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1760s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
1990s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Wood Panel
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
1910s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Paint, Fiberboard
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Paint, Fiberboard
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Paper, India Ink, Watercolor
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
1720s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Copper
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Board, Acrylic
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
Mid-18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Gold
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Encaustic, Oil
1830s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Encaustic, Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Thread, Paper, Encaustic, Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Encaustic, Mulberry Paper, Oil
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Encaustic
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Encaustic
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Encaustic
1950s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Mid-19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Copper
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Ink, Archival Paper
1680s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Early 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Paper, Crayon, Watercolor, Pencil
Early 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, 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.