Figurative Paintings
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1960s Romantic Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Gouache, Pencil, Graphite
Early 20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Lithograph
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Ink, Board, Gouache, Oil
1930s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Casein, Canvas
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Pastel, Paper
1960s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1930s Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1960s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1970s Tonalist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Paper
Early 1900s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Gouache
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Tonalist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Lithograph
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Fiberboard
Mid-20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1970s Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 1900s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1920s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Aesthetic Movement Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Ink
1940s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache, Board
1960s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Early 20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Cardboard
1970s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Masonite, Mixed Media
1950s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Late 20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1920s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Modern Figurative Paintings
Pastel
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
1920s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Board
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.