Figurative Paintings
1920s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1930s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1950s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil
Early 17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1980s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1950s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Pastel
21st Century and Contemporary Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas
1630s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
16th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oak, Oil
Early 1900s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink, Watercolor, Gouache
1930s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Oil
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Early 17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Wood Panel, Oil
Late 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Pastel
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Pastel
Early 17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Poplar
1910s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Wood Panel, Oil
1980s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Pastel
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1950s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oak, Oil
Early 17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Lights, Color
Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Metal
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1700s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Lights, Oil
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oak, Oil, Wood Panel
Early 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oak, Oil, Panel
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Mid-19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
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.