Figurative Paintings
1920s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Board, Watercolor
1920s Pointillist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Pastel
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
1930s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paper, Canvas
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Illustration Board
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
1930s French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1930s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1930s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1920s Figurative Paintings
Paint
1930s Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
Paint
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint
1920s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Pencil
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1920s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1920s Pointillist Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
1930s French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s Constructivist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
1930s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Laid Paper
1930s Realist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
1930s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Naturalistic Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1930s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Acrylic
1920s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Ceramic
1930s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Paint
1920s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1920s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
1930s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paint, Canvas
1930s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
1920s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1930s Figurative Paintings
Woodcut
1930s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1920s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Gouache
1920s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, 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.