Figurative Paintings
19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1960s Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
1990s Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Masonite, Oil
1950s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas, Illustration Board
Late 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1890s Symbolist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
Late 17th Century Italian School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 2000s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1940s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paper
Late 19th Century Italian School Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1960s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Linen, Raw Linen, Oil
Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
Mid-18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 2000s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1870s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1870s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1990s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1980s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1850s Pre-Raphaelite Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Masonite
Early 2000s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Epoxy Resin, Wood, Mixed Media, Acrylic
17th Century Old Masters 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.