Figurative Paintings
1950s Modern Figurative Paintings
Ink, Tempera, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
2010s Minimalist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Minimalist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink
1780s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Chalk
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Tempera
1960s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Plywood, Oil
1980s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Cardboard, Ink
2010s Abstract Geometric Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paint, Paper, Parchment Paper, Charcoal, Crayon, Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel,...
2010s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor
2010s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor
20th Century Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Pencil, Color Pencil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paint, Paper, Parchment Paper, Charcoal, Crayon, Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel,...
2010s Conceptual Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Tempera, Gouache
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Graphite, Other Medium, Paint, Paper, Charcoal, Crayon, Oil Crayon, Oil ...
1960s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Tempera
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink
1990s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Iron
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1950s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Tempera
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Fabric, Trimming, Charcoal
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Fabric, Trimming, Charcoal
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Fabric, Trimming, Charcoal
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Enamel
2010s Contemporary 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.