Figurative Paintings
1750s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
18th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas
18th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Board, Gouache
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
Early 18th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Board
1930s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
18th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Board, Gouache
1930s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
18th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
18th Century French School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Copper
1930s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 18th Century Naturalistic Figurative Paintings
Oil, Laid Paper
1930s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Mid-18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 18th Century Rococo Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
18th Century Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Engraving
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Gouache, Board
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Watercolor, Cardboard
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-18th Century Rococo Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Paper
18th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Oak, Panel
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil
18th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Copper
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
18th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Copper
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
18th Century Romantic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Wood, Oil
Late 18th Century Naturalistic Figurative Paintings
Iron
1930s Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1930s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 18th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1930s Figurative Paintings
Pastel, Illustration Board
1930s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Modern Figurative Paintings
Linen, Egg Tempera
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
18th Century Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paint
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas, Board
18th Century Rococo Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paint
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.