Figurative Paintings
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
1980s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
1970s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1960s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Illustration Board
20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1910s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1950s Figurative Paintings
Board, Tempera
1940s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1950s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1920s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1960s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1910s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Pencil, Archival Paper, Gouache
1940s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1980s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard, Canvas
1950s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Modern Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
1970s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1930s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Board, Oil
1980s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1980s Fauvist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1910s English School Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache, Cardboard
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Board, Gouache
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil, Acrylic
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Cubist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
Late 20th Century Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media, Watercolor
1990s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1950s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
1970s Naturalistic Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, 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.