Figurative Paintings
Late 20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
1980s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
1970s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
1950s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Board, Watercolor
Early 20th Century Pre-Raphaelite Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Modern Figurative Paintings
Masonite, Oil
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Oil
1860s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1930s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paper, Canvas
1860s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1940s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink, Acrylic
1940s Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
1980s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Archival Paper, Pastel
1950s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1940s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Egg Tempera, Masonite
Late 20th Century Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Mirror, Plaster, Wood, Acrylic
20th Century Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Late 19th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1940s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Oil
20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Pastel, Archival Paper
1910s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
20th Century Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1950s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Masonite, Oil
1970s Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1990s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1870s French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
Late 20th Century Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Gouache
Late 19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Laid Paper, Board, Acrylic
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1940s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1820s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Illustration Board, Oil, Pen
Late 19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
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.