Figurative Paintings
Early 1900s Pre-Raphaelite Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Watercolor
1970s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Tempera
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 1900s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Figurative Paintings
Cotton
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paint, Mixed Media
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
1970s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
Early 1900s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
Early 1900s Aesthetic Movement Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Ink
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 1900s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Tempera
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Tempera
Early 1900s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
1970s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1970s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Oil, Masonite
1970s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Tempera
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
1970s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1970s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Paper
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1970s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Paper, Gouache, Handmade Paper
1970s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Masonite, Oil
1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Panel
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Paint
1970s Surrealist 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.