Figurative Paintings
18th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
18th Century Figurative Paintings
Pastel, Paper
Late 18th Century English School Figurative Paintings
Oil
18th Century Rococo Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cotton Canvas
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Oil, Canvas
1970s Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1720s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Copper
1970s Figurative Paintings
Oil
18th Century Flemish School Figurative Paintings
Oil
16th Century Mannerist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel
1970s Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Board, Acrylic
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
18th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
18th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
18th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
17th Century Italian School Figurative Paintings
Canvas
16th Century Mannerist Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Canvas
1970s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Late 18th Century Italian School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1970s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Board, Acrylic
1970s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1970s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1970s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board, Linen, Canvas
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1970s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1970s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Copper
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Paper, Watercolor
1970s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Ink, Archival Paper
1770s Italian School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1680s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Gouache, Paper
1970s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
16th Century Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Oil
17th Century Realist 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.