Figurative Paintings
1940s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Oil
20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Pastel, Archival Paper
20th Century Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1980s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1950s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Masonite, Oil
1990s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Ink, Paper
1970s Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1990s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Laid Paper, Board, Acrylic
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1960s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
Late 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Illustration Board, Oil, Pen
1940s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Gouache
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1910s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1910s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Mid-20th Century Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Late 20th Century Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic Polymer, Acrylic, Illustration Board
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Paper, India Ink, Watercolor
1950s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1910s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Masonite, Acrylic, Cardboard
1950s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood
1960s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Pencil, Gouache
Late 20th Century Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Paper, Crayon
Mid-20th Century English School Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Barbizon School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Cotton Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century 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.