Figurative Paintings
1930s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Casein, Canvas
1930s Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1980s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Lithograph
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Fiberboard
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood
1980s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1980s Conceptual Figurative Paintings
Lithograph, Mixed Media
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board, Pencil, Canvas
1930s Modern Figurative Paintings
Pastel
1980s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper
1980s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Lithograph
1980s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Plexiglass, Paper, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Color, Etching, Lithograph
1930s Realist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
1980s Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Plaster, Casein, Wood Panel
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Paint
1930s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1980s Post-Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1930s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Laid Paper, Watercolor
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Board, Watercolor
1980s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Illustration Board, Watercolor
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1980s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1980s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
1930s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
1980s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1930s Post-Impressionist 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.