Figurative Paintings
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1930s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paper, Canvas
Early 20th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Ink, Paper
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1960s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Canvas
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Street Art Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Acrylic
Early 1900s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1990s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Gouache
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1930s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1990s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1910s French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Pastel, Laid Paper
1990s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1930s Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
Paint
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
1910s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Cotton Canvas, Wood
1960s Figurative Paintings
Paint
Early 1900s Italian School Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1950s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
Late 20th Century Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Canvas, Rubber
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint
Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
1970s Figurative Paintings
Paint
1920s Figurative Paintings
Paint
1920s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Pencil
Late 20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Paper, Gouache
1970s Realist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Rag Paper
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Carbon Pencil
Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1990s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist 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.