Figurative Paintings
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Poplar, Oil
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oak, Oil
Mid-18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Wood Panel, Oil
1990s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
20th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A group of friends sail in a small ship that wallows atop rolling seas. Some engage in various activities to keep their spirits high while the lookouts have an ...
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oak, Oil, Wood Panel
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Copper
Early 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oak, Oil, Panel
Mid-19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Mixed Media, Ink, Paper
Early 17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Wood Panel, Oil
16th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oak, Oil
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Mid-19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Late 19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Enamel
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Artist Comments
A woman character is shown floating near an open window, where a giant bluebird is waiting as a spirit animal guide. The bird serves as a reminder to not give u...
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
16th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1930s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Enamel
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 1700s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wool, Thread, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
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.