Figurative Paintings
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wax, Acrylic, Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
1940s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1910s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1950s Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Board
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Panel
1960s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Archival Ink
Early 18th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
1970s Conceptual Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Archival Ink, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Archival Paper
1960s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
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.