Figurative Paintings
Late 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Paper
1960s Modern Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Paper
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1950s Modern Figurative Paintings
Monotype, Archival Paper
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1930s Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Etching, Paper
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Watercolor
1960s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1940s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Board, Oil
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1940s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Archival Paper, Acrylic
1940s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Wax, Gouache, Archival Paper
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Oil Pastel
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1940s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil Pastel, Ink, Sumi Ink, Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Archival Paper
1980s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Mixed Media
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paper
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.