Figurative Paintings
2010s Pointillist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Burlap, Oil
2010s Pointillist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Pastel, Oil
1950s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Pointillist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1960s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Pointillist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Gouache, Archival Paper
1960s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
2010s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
21st Century and Contemporary Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
2010s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1960s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
1990s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil
1950s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1980s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, 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.