Figurative Paintings
1910s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1910s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1940s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic Polymer, Acrylic, Illustration Board
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
1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
1980s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s English School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
1960s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Post-Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Pre-Raphaelite Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1960s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Pastel
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1940s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1980s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Rice Paper, Watercolor
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
1950s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paper, Canvas
1990s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Modern Figurative Paintings
Masonite, Oil
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Canvas, Oil
20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Archival Paper, Pastel
1940s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Egg Tempera, Masonite
Late 20th Century Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Mirror, Plaster, Wood, Acrylic
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1940s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Oil
20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Pastel, Archival Paper
20th Century Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Impressionist 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.