Figurative Paintings
1970s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1970s Realist Figurative Paintings
Cardboard, Oil
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Post-Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1970s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1970s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1970s Abstract Geometric Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1970s Realist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Cardboard
1970s Post-Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
1970s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Oil
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 2000s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Early 2000s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
1940s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel, Cardboard
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil, Board
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil, Board
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Oil, Canvas
1970s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Post-Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas, Cardboard
1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
1970s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1970s Expressionist 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.