Figurative Paintings
Late 19th Century Pre-Raphaelite Figurative Paintings
Oil
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
19th Century Hudson River School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1880s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1860s Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil
1890s Realist Figurative Paintings
Wood Panel, Oil
1830s Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1890s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 19th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
19th Century Medieval Figurative Paintings
Copper
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1890s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Gouache
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1880s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
19th Century Romantic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1880s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1890s Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Board, Pencil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1870s Romantic Figurative Paintings
Gesso, Oil, Board
1880s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1890s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Wood, Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
1860s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1880s Barbizon School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Pastel
1890s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1890s English School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1860s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Oil
1860s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
Late 19th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1870s French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1870s Dutch School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1820s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1880s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1880s Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Metal
Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Cotton Canvas, Oil
1890s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
1880s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1870s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Wood Panel, Oil
Late 19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Early 19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Cotton Canvas, Oil
1830s Romantic Figurative Paintings
Pencil
1890s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1870s French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1860s French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Laid Paper
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.