Figurative Paintings
1920s Pointillist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
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
1980s Land Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Board
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Canvas
1930s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Acrylic
Early 20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Pastel, Cardboard, Carbon Pencil
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Board, Watercolor
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
Early 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Cotton Canvas, Wood
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint
Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1980s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic, Rice Paper
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Masonite, Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Pre-Raphaelite Figurative Paintings
Oil
1910s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic Polymer, Acrylic, Illustration Board
1970s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Early 20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Pastel
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1950s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Oil Pastel
Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1940s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Gouache
20th Century Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
1980s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1920s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Illustration 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.