Figurative Paintings
1940s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1940s Symbolist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
1940s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
1940s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
1920s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Paper
Early 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Irina TrushkovaFlorence -original still life painting-original realism still life oil painting, 2023
Late 19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Pastel, Paper
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Graphite, Paper
1960s Cubist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Gouache, Board
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Pastel
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Paper
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Graphite, Watercolor, Paper
1940s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1940s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Mosaic
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.