Figurative Paintings
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink, Pen
1970s Figurative Paintings
Board, Gouache
1990s Realist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
1990s Realist Figurative Paintings
Board, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Found Objects, House Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic
1970s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Minimalist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Permanent Marker
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Paper, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Fabric, Trimming, Charcoal
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Found Objects, House Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Found Objects, House Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
1930s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
Mid-19th Century Figurative Paintings
Fabric, Ink, Pigment
1950s Modern Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
Mid-19th Century Figurative Paintings
Fabric, Ink, Pigment
Mid-19th Century Figurative Paintings
Fabric, Ink, Pigment
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Mid-19th Century Figurative Paintings
Fabric, Ink, Pigment
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Ink, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Watercolor, Color Pencil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Polyester, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Wood Panel
1980s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil Pastel
2010s Minimalist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Permanent Marker
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Late 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
20th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 2000s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel, Gouache, Color Pencil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Late 19th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, 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.