Figurative Paintings
1880s Baroque Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Plexiglass, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
In artist Gail Ragains' figurative piece, a woman takes a breather on the beach. She reclines comfortably on a green chair, in a mix of gestural marks within a thought-out composition. The muted color combination allows the warm and cool shades to play off each other.
About the Artist
Artist Gail Ragains paints abstract figurative works defined by strong color combinations and intuitive mark-making. "I approach each creative process as an open-ended improvisation," says Gail. "It is an evolving journey without preconceived plans for a predictable outcome. I react to the materials at hand, stripping away the non-essentials to give a loose interpretation of form, movement, and human expression." Inspired by the physical gestures and emotions of people, the human figure dominates Gail's art. As a young person, Gail was active in dance, ice skating, and gymnastics and competed in triathlons in her 20s. While pursuing a career as a massage therapist for 25 years, Gail simultaneously attended art classes through community colleges, the local Art League, and workshops with artists she admires. Having lived in California her entire life, Gail is influenced by the California colors—golden hills, clear blue skies, swimsuits, and swimming pools. Today, her studio is in her backyard just a few steps away from the home she shares with her husband. “In this workspace, I have everything I need. Good light, music, fresh air, and my studio mate, Sadie, the cutest 14 lb. mixed-breed rescue pup.â€
Words that describe this painting: figure, figurative, people, Richard Diebenkorn, gestural, expressive, colorful, beach, sand, paper, acrylicpaint, portrait, expressionism, people, acrylic painting, beige
Beach Chair...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Late 19th Century Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Leather, Mixed Media
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1840s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Pointillist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
19th Century Renaissance Figurative Paintings
Gold Leaf
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
Early 19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
2010s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Pastel
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
Late 19th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas, Board
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Minimalist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Early 2000s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Early 2000s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Laid Paper
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Romantic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Newsprint
Early 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1850s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Birch, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Post-Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Modern 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.