Figurative Paintings
1950s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Board
1950s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1910s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
1980s Realist Figurative Paintings
Wood, Tempera, Egg Tempera, Board
1980s Realist Figurative Paintings
Board, Egg Tempera, Tempera, Wood
1990s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Cardboard
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1980s Realist Figurative Paintings
Board, Egg Tempera, Tempera, Wood
1910s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1950s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Figurative Paintings
Gouache
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.