Figurative Paintings
19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Naturalistic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Canvas
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Oil
19th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
Late 19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1870s Hudson River School Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Canvas, Oil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Early 19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Glass
19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Mid-19th Century Figurative Paintings
Wood Panel, Oil
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Copper
Early 19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1860s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
1890s English School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1820s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil Pastel, Canvas
Late 19th Century Pre-Raphaelite Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-19th Century Romantic Figurative Paintings
Oil
1870s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Wood Panel, Oil
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1960s Realist Figurative Paintings
Carbon Pencil
1880s Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century 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.