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Impressionist Figurative Paintings

IMPRESSIONIST STYLE

Emerging in 19th-century France, Impressionist art embraced loose brushwork and plein-air painting to respond to the movement of daily life. Although the pioneers of the Impressionist movement — Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir — are now household names, their work was a radical break with an art scene led and shaped by academic traditions for around two centuries. These academies had oversight of a curriculum that emphasized formal drawing, painting and sculpting techniques and historical themes.

The French Impressionists were influenced by a group of artists known as the Barbizon School, who painted what they witnessed in nature. The rejection of pieces by these artists and the later Impressionists from the salons culminated in a watershed 1874 exhibition in Paris that was staged outside of the juried systems. After a work of Monet’s was derided by a critic as an unfinished “impression,” the term was taken as a celebration of their shared interest in capturing fleeting moments as subject matter, whether the shifting weather on rural landscapes or the frenzy of an urban crowd. Rather than the exacting realism of the academic tradition, Impressionist paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings represented how an artist saw a world in motion.

Many Impressionist painters were inspired by the perspectives in imported Japanese prints alongside these shifts in European painting — Édouard Manet drew on ukiyo-e woodblock prints and depicted Japanese design in his Portrait of Émile Zola, for example. American artists such as Mary Cassatt and William Merritt Chase, who studied abroad, were impacted by the work of the French artists, and by the late 19th century American Impressionism had its own distinct aesthetics with painters responding to the rapid modernization of cities through quickly created works that were vivid with color and light.

Find a collection of authentic Impressionist art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Impressionist
French Impressionist Oil Painting of Boats Moored in a Forested Estuary
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Impressionist Oil Painting of Boats Moored in a Forested Estuary by Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 8.75 inches (height) x 10.5 inches (width) Oil painting on board, u...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Stylised French Village Church with Trees in Cool Blue Tones
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Stylised French Village Church with Trees in Cool Blue Tones by Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 9.75 inches (height) x 9.75 inches (width...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Figures Strolling on a Breezy Shoreline with a Lighthouse in the Distance Oil
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
A Walk by the Seaside by Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) size: 8 x 9.5 inches oil painting on board, unframed condition: the painting is in very good condition. It has previously been sto...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Warm Light" (2023) By Riley Doyle, Original Oil Interior Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Riley Doyle's "Warm Light" (2023) is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a the sun shining through the window. This piece measures at 17 x 14 inches in it's frame and is ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

French Impressionist Oil Painting of La Procession du Folgoët, Brittany
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Impressionist Oil Painting of La Procession du Folgoët, Brittany By Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 6.25 x 4.5 inches (height x width) Signed: Yes Oil painting on card...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Summer, Figurative Art, Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Anatoly Borisovich Tarabanov Work: Original oil painting, handmade artwork, one of a kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 1988 Style: Figurative Art Title: Summer Size: 37.5" x...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Distinguished Portrait of Authoritative Gentleman in Glasses French Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Distinguished Gentleman Portrait Signed by D - Lubin (French, early 20th century) Dated 1915 oil on panel, unframed panel: 13.75 x 10.5 inches Provenance: Private collection, Paris ...
Category

1910s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Life" (2024) By Adam Shaw, Original Oil Painting of Astronaut
Located in Denver, CO
"Life" (2024) by Adam Shaw is an original handmade oil painting that depicts a portrait of an astronaut who appears to have died in orbit. About the Artist: Figure painter, illustr...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

1897, Large Oil Painting, impressionist style. "Serious encounter"
Located in Berlin, DE
Large, decorative oil painting in impressionist style. Illegible signed. Dated 1897. "Serious encounter" In places color flaking. Unframed.
Category

Late 19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Canal View in Amsterdam Tranquil Cityscape Dutch School Signed Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Canal Scene, Amsterdam signed by W.Maas oil on board, framed Framed: 16 x 13.75 inches Board: 9.5 x 7.5 inches Inscribed verso Provenance: Private collection This painting, likely by...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Side Street, Princetown, New York
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Side Street, Princetown, New York" c 1960, is an oil painting on panel by noted American artist Alexander Redein, 1912-1990. It is signed at the lower right corn...
Category

Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Women with Flowers Portrait Original oil Painting One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Eduard Matevosyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Cardboard Year: 2025 Style: Figurative art Title: Woman with Flowers Size: 17" ...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

20th Century Portrait Oil Painting of Young Girl in Green Dress
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of a Young Lady by Paul Fitzgerald (Australian 1922-2017) signed and dated 1995 oil painting on canvas, framed canvas: 24 x 20 inches framed: 27 x 24 inches Charming portrait of this young lady, depicted in a light 'duck egg' colored dress. The work has a lovely 'vintage' feel to it. Paul Desmond Fitzgerald (1 August 1922 – 24 June 2017) was an Australian portrait painter who painted a vast array of distinguished persons. Fitzgerald was born in the family home, in the Melbourne suburb of Kew, the second son of Frank Fitzgerald and Margaret née Poynton. Frank Fitzgerald was a journalist with The Age for approximately ten years and about eight years with The Argus. He periodically filled the roles of general reporting, leader writing, political correspondent, art critic, music critic, theatre critic and motoring editor. A Catholic, Fitzgerald was educated at Xavier College in Melbourne (1933–1939) and studied for five years at the National Gallery School (1940–43 and 1946–47), interrupted for three and a half years in the Army during World War II (1943–46). When he was painting away from his studio in Melbourne, he usually lived with the subjects of his portraiture. He lived and painted overseas on commissioned portraits twice each year since 1958 including America, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Jersey, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Hawaii and Bermuda. He also painted throughout Australia. Fitzgerald was a finalist for the Archibald Prize for portraiture on multiple occasions including 1958 (with a portrait of Justice Robert Monahan), in 1962 (with portraits of each of Sir Reg Ansett and Sir Robert Menzies...
Category

Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Rocking Horse Ornament" (2024) by Morgan Cameron, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Morgan Cameron’s (US based) “Rocking Horse Ornament” (2024) is an original handmade oil painting on panel that depicts a close up of a white rocking horse ornament hanging from a Chr...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Hopeful Portraits, Figurative Original oil Painting, One of a Kind Ready to Hang
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Nika Armine Work: Original oil painting, handmade artwork, one of a kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2019 Style: Surrealism, Figurative Art Title: Hopeful Size: 40" x 40" x...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

French Impressionist Acrylic Painting of a Farmer near a Cottage
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Impressionist Acrylic Painting of a Farmer near a Cottage By Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 4 x 6.25 inches (height x width) Signed: Yes Acrylic painting on board, un...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

1930's French Portrait Man with Moustache Reading Paper Signed Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Man with the Moustache signed by Louise Alix (French, 1888-1980) *see notes below oil painting on canvas unframed measures: 18 inches high by 23.5 inches wide condition: overall ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

French Harbour Scene of La Tremblade with Church Spire and Boats
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Harbour Scene of La Tremblade with Church Spire and Boats By F.T. Roussel Signed: yes Size: 8.75 x 11.75 inches (height x width) Gouache and Acrylic painting on cardbo...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Gouache

"All the Wild Ones Act 4" - Oil on Panel Contemporary Flamingo Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Brian Keith Stephens' painting "All the Wild Ones Act 4" (2018) is a delightful exploration of wildlife through the lens of contemporary artistry. Rendered in oil on panel, this orig...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Spring brings hope
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting will come to you stretched on a wooden stretcher and completely ready to be placed in the interior. ABOUT THE ARTWORK "Spring Brings Hope" is a vivid portrayal of rene...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

French Impressionist Oil Painting of a Coastal Scene with Boats at Low Tide
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Impressionist Oil Painting of a Coastal Scene with Boats at Low Tide By Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 6.75 x 7 inches (height x width) Signed: Bottom right Oil paint...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Colbert, Afternoon original impressionist figurative painting-contemporary art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. In "Colbert, Afternoon," Michael Alford captures the lively am...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Board, Oil

Modern British Signed Oil - London Skyline viewed from River Thames, grey tones
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: Anton Matthews 1925- 2008, signed with initials lower corner Title: The London Skyline, from River Thames Medium: oil painting on board, unframed board : 12.5 x 16...
Category

Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"City Life" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Christopher Clark's (US based) "City Life" is an oil painting that depicts a female figure juxtaposed with a busy city setting. Christopher has been an artist since early childhood...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"053 - Plein Air-Aurora, CO" (2022) By Judd Mercer, Gouache Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Judd Mercer's (US based) "053 - Plein Air-Aurora, CO" is a gouache painting depicting a few trees on a hill. Artist bio/statement Judd Mercer is a contemporary landscape painter an...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Paper

French Impressionist Oil Painting of Coastal Monument under Overcast Skies
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Impressionist Oil Painting of Coastal Monument under Overcast Skies By Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 16.25 x 13 inches (height x width) Signed: Yes Oil painting on b...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

French Impressionist Oil Painting of Boats in a Coastal Harbour
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Impressionist Oil Painting of Boats in a Coastal Harbour By Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 8.75 x 10.5 inches (height x width) Signed: Yes Oil painting on board, unfr...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

French Coastal Watercolour of Moored Boats and Village Houses
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Coastal Watercolour of Moored Boats and Village Houses By F.T. Roussel Size: 8.25 x 11.75 inches (height x width) Signed: Yes Watercolor painting on paper, unframed Condition: The painting is in good condition, with minor signs of aging. Provenance: All the paintings we have for sale by this artist have come from the artists estate and have had no previous owners at all. Description: In this delicate and atmospheric French watercolour by Roussel, a peaceful coastal inlet is rendered in soft, watery tones of turquoise, lavender, and earthy grey. Several sailboats rest quietly on the shore, their curved hulls lightly defined in ink and shadow, while a row of whitewashed houses with slate roofs lines the distant shoreline. A hazy sun hovers in the sky, bathing the landscape in a diffused, serene light. Roussel’s technique captures the fleeting nature of low tide and the stillness of a quiet day in a French fishing village...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

1930's French Impressionist Oil Fishing Boats Beached in Estuary
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Fishing Boats Simone Forge 1930's French Impressionist oil on board unframed board: 13 x 16 inches Provenance: private collection, Paris Condition: overall good and sound condition...
Category

Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Very Large 19th Century French Impressionist Oil Painting Portrait Bearded Man
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of a Bearded Man French Impressionist artist, late 19th century oil on canvas, framed framed: 38.5 x 30.5 inches canvas: 36 x 28 inches provenance: private collection, Franc...
Category

Late 19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Le Marche de Fleurs Very Large French Impressionist Signed Oil Figures at Market
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Le Marche de Fleurs by Paul Pellaro (French, 20th century) signed lower right oil painting on canvas, framed framed size: 41 x 34 inches provenance: private collection, South of Fra...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

French Impressionist Vibrant Religious Procession Outside a Historic Chapel
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Religious Procession signed by Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 7.5 x 9.5 inches Oil painting on cardboard, unframed Condition: The painting is in good condition, with minor signs of...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Circus Performance 1930's French Impressionist
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Cirucs by Louise Alix (French, 1888-1980) *see notes below provenance stamp to the back watercolour painting on artist paper, unframed measures: 9.5 high by 8 inches wide condit...
Category

Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

Glass, light, roses. Oil painting, alla prima, Impressionsm, fine art
Located in Oslo, NO
This still life painting captures a quiet moment of delicate natural beauty. Three vivid roses, set in a clear glass of water, are illuminated by strong, directional light that casts...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Early 20th century Impressionist Dutch River Landscape, oil on canvas
Located in Woodbury, CT
Herbe was a Dutch painter from the early 20th century. He painted landscapes and seascapes mostly in oils. His work was exhibited in London during the 1930s-50s with Mitchell’s the i...
Category

1930s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

French Street Scene with Figures and Timber-Framed Architecture
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Street Scene with Figures and Timber-Framed Architecture by Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 12 inches (height) x 9.5 inches (width) Oil painting on paper, unframed Con...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Expressionist Old Tree, Landscape, British Artist
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Expressionist Old Tree, Landscape, British Artist by Pamela Cawley, British 20th century oil painting on canvas, unframed canvas: 26 x 30 inches Stunning original Impressionist oil...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

French Impressionist Posed Elegant Lady In V Neck Shirt Pencil Sketch
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Posed Lady by Louise Alix (French, 1888-1980) *see notes below provenance stamp to the back pencil drawing on artist paper, unframed measures: 10 high by 8.25 inches wide condition:...
Category

Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Color Pencil

"Rue de Village animée" French Oil Painting of a Village Street Scene
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: "Rue de Village animée" French Oil Painting of a Village Street Scene By Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 6.25 x 8.75 inches (height x width) Signed: Bottom right Oil painting...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

French Watercolour of Bridge and Church in a Tranquil Village Scene
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Watercolour of Bridge and Church in a Tranquil Village Scene by Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Signed: Yes Size: 9.25 inches (height) x 12.5 inches (width) Watercolor paint...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

FINE MODERN BRITISH SIGNED OIL PAINTING - CHILDREN PLAYING IN SURF ON BEACH
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: M. Clark, British late 20th century Title: Playing in the Surf Medium: oil painting on board, framed. Size: painting: 15.75 x 19.75 inches, frame: 19.75 x 23.5 ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Large Early 20th Century French Post Impressionist Oil Farmyard Scene Figures
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Rural Farmyard French Post-Impressionist artist, circa 1917 signed initials oil on canvas, unframed Canvas: 18 x 22 inches Provenance: Private collection, France Condition: very...
Category

Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

French Vivid Coastal Oil Painting of Sailboats and Stone Tower
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Vivid Coastal Oil Painting of Sailboats and Stone Tower By F.T. Roussel Size: 8.75 x 10.75 inches (height x width) Signed: Yes Oil painting on cardboard, unframed Condi...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Lipstick" (2024) by Clyde Steadman, Original Female Portrait Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Lipstick" by Clyde Steadman (United States) is a handmade female portrait painting that is unframed, but ready to hang.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Cannon Street-original impressionism cityscape oil painting-contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. "Cannon Street" by Michael Alford is a captivating original im...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

"Grey Sky Barn" (2022) by Seth Winegar, Oil painting, White Barn
Located in Denver, CO
Seth Winegar's (US based) "Grey Sky Barn" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a landscape with a white barn. Bio/artist statement: Seth Winegar is a fine art oil pai...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Red Pick Up
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Red Pick up" c.1970 is an oil painting on hardboard by American artist John Schweikhard, b.1938. It is signed and titled on the back. The ...
Category

Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Mid Century Garden Portrait of a Woman in Lavender
Located in Soquel, CA
Beautiful impressionist mid-century portrait of a woman in a garden setting by Philadelphia artist Sol Jasner (American, 20th Century). The woman has short hair and is wearing a lovely lavender colored blouse, and she is surrounded by lush greenery with a cluster of grapes growing on the vine in the background. Signed "Sol Jasner" on verso. Unframed. Canvas size: 18"H x 24"W. A mid-century Philadelphia artist and art educator active in the 1960’s, Sol Jasner taught art classes alongside his contemporary Philadelphia artist Martin Zipin.
Category

Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Lovers" Blossoms Springtime original impressionism cityscape oil painting
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. "Lovers" by Juan del Pozo is a captivating original floral fig...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

French Impressionist Oil Painting of "Fête des Vieux Coquins à St. Sulac" Breton
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: French Impressionist Oil Painting of "Fête des Vieux Coquins à St. Sulac" Breton By Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 5.5 x 3.75 inches (height x width) Signed: Yes Oil painting on cardboard, unframed Condition: The painting is in good condition. Provenance: All the paintings we have for sale by this artist have come from the artists estate and have had no previous owners at all. Description: Titled "Fête des Vieux Coquins à St. Sulac", this vibrant oil painting by Fanch Lel captures a lively festival scene in the French coastal town of St. Sulac. The painting features colorful sailboats on the water, with Breton figures dressed in traditional attire in the foreground. The energetic brushstrokes and bright colors convey the festive atmosphere, while the seagulls flying overhead and reflections on the water add to the dynamic composition. Created in 2001, this piece highlights Lel’s ability to depict the cultural heritage of Brittany, combining the charm of traditional festivals with the beauty of the coastal landscape. The celebration of the old sailboats...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

OLD MASTER Signed L S Lowry "The Stacks " Oil Painting 20th Century Framed
By Laurence Stephen Lowry
Located in Ferndown, GB
OLD MASTER Signed L S Lowry " The Stacks " Oil Painting 20th Century NEW COLLECTION Of RARE PIECES OF ART Here we have a unique and rare piece of Art signed Good Detail one of th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Deux vieillards aux chatons - Impressionist Figurative Oil by J F Raffaelli
Located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Signed figures in interior oil on panel by French impressionist painter Jean-Francois Raffaelli. The piece depicts two old men seated in an interior. One is reading his paper as the other naps and there are several kittens on the floor. Painted in the artist's distinctive style. Signature: Signed lower left Dimensions: Framed: 9.5"x8" Unframed: 5.5"x4" Provenance: Brame & Lorenceau have confirmed the authenticity of this work and it will be included in the digital catalogue raisonne of the painter which is under preparation A certificate of authenticity fromBrame & Lorenceau accompanies this painting Private collection - United States Original artists label verso Jean-François Raffaëlli's father was a failed Italian businessman and Raffaëlli himself was, among other things, a church chorister, actor and theatre singer. He then studied under Gérôme at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He travelled to Italy, Spain and Algeria and on his return to France settled in Asnières. In 1876, on a trip to Brittany, he first saw the potential of realist subject matter, if treated seriously. He became involved in meetings of artists at the Café Guerbois, where the Impressionist painters used to gather. As a result, Degas, contrary to the advice of the group, introduced Raffaëlli to the Impressionist exhibitions - according to one uncertain source as early as the very first exhibition, at the home of Nadar, and certainly to those of 1880 and 1881. In 1904, Raffaëlli founded the Society for Original Colour Engraving. He first exhibited at the Salon de Paris in 1870 and continued to exhibit there until he joined the Salon des Artistes Français in 1881, where he earned a commendation in 1885, was made Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur in 1889 and in the same year was awarded a gold medal at the Exposition Universelle. In 1906 he was made Officier of the Légion d'Honneur. He was also a member of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. In 1884, a private exhibition of his work cemented his reputation. He contributed to several newspapers such as The Black Cat (Le Chat Noir) in 1885 and The French Mail (Le Courrier Français) in 1886 and 1887. He published a collection entitled Parisian Characters, which captured his favourite themes of the street, the neighbourhood and local people going about their lives. In 1880 he participated, with Forain, on the illustration of Joris Karl Huysmans' Parisian Sketches (Croquis Parisiens). He also illustrated Huysman's Works. As well as working as an illustrator, he also made etchings and coloured dry-points. His early attempts at painting were genre scenes, but once he was settled in Asnières he started to paint picturesque views of Parisian suburbs. From 1879 onwards, his subject matter drew on the lives of local people. These popular themes, which he treated with humanity and a social conscience, brought him to the attention of the social realist writers of the time such as Émile Zola. In addition to his realist style, Raffaëlli's dark palette, which ran contrary to the Impressionist aesthethic, helped to explain the opposition of those painters to his participation in their exhibitions. More concerned with drawing than colour, he used black and white for most of his paintings. Towards the end of his life, he lightened his palette, but without adopting any other principles of the Impressionist technique. After painting several portraits, including Edmond de Goncourt and Georges Clémenceau, he returned to genre painting, particularly scenes of bourgeois life. Later in his career, he painted mainly Breton-inspired sailors and views of Venice. His views of the Paris slums and the fortifications, sites which have almost completely disappeared, went some way towards establishing a genre in themselves and perpetuated the memory of the area: The Slums, Rag-and-Bone Man, Vagabond, Sandpit, In St-Denis, Area of Fortifications. His realistic and witty portrayal of typical Parisian townscapes accounts for his enduring appeal. Born in Paris, he was of Tuscan descent through his paternal grandparents. He showed an interest in music and theatre before becoming a painter in 1870. One of his landscape paintings was accepted for exhibition at the Salon in that same year. In October 1871 he began three months of study under Jean-Léon Gérôme at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris; he had no other formal training. Raffaëlli produced primarily costume pictures until 1876, when he began to depict the people of his time—particularly peasants, workers, and ragpickers seen in the suburbs of Paris—in a realistic style. His new work was championed by influential critics such as J.-K. Huysmans, as well as by Edgar Degas. The ragpicker became for Raffaëlli a symbol of the alienation of the individual in modern society. Art historian Barbara S. Fields has written of Raffaëlli's interest in the positivist philosophy of Hippolyte-Adolphe Taine, which led him to articulate a theory of realism that he christened caractérisme. He hoped to set himself apart from those unthinking, so-called realist artists whose art provided the viewer with only a literal depiction of nature. His careful observation of man in his milieu paralleled the anti-aesthetic, anti-romantic approach of the literary Naturalists, such as Zola and Huysmans. Degas invited Raffaëlli to participate in the Impressionist exhibitions of 1880 and 1881, an action that bitterly divided the group; not only was Raffaëlli not an Impressionist, but he threatened to dominate the 1880 exhibition with his outsized display of 37 works. Monet, resentful of Degas's insistence on expanding the Impressionist exhibitions by including several realists, chose not to exhibit, complaining, "The little chapel has become a commonplace school which opens its doors to the first dauber to come along."An example of Raffaëlli's work from this period is Les buveurs d'absinthe (1881, in the California Palace of Legion of Honor Art Museum in San Francisco). Originally titled Les déclassés, the painting was widely praised at the 1881 exhibit. After winning the Légion d'honneur in 1889, Raffaëlli shifted his attention from the suburbs of Paris to city itself, and the street scenes that resulted were well received by the public and the critics. He made a number of sculptures, but these are known today only through photographs.[2] His work was also part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1912 Summer Olympics. In the later years of his life, he concentrated on color printmaking. Raffaëlli died in Paris on February 11, 1924 Museum and Gallery Holdings: Béziers: Peasants Going to Town Bordeaux: Bohemians at a Café Boston: Notre-Dame; Return from the Market Brussels: Chevet of Notre-Dame; pastel Bucharest (Muz. National de Arta al României): Market at Antibes; Pied-à-terre Copenhagen: Fishermen on the Beach Douai: Return from the Market; Blacksmiths Liège: Absinthe Drinker...
Category

1890s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

"On the Bank" Figurative Oil Painting 39" x 79" inch by Omar Abdel Zaher
Located in Culver City, CA
"On the Bank" Figurative Oil Painting 39" x 79" inch by Omar Abdel Zaher Abdel Zaher is a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Helwan and has been painting for three decades and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Female figure woman oil on canvas painting portrait
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Joan Palet (1911 - 1996) - Female figure - Oil on canvas Oil measures 46x38 cm. Frame measures 70x62 cm. Joan Palet was born in Barcelona on March 28, 1911 in a family of sculptors ...
Category

1970s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Bathing by the Big Rock, American Impressionist Landscape and Beach Scene
Located in Doylestown, PA
This Impressionist beach scene and landscape was painted by American artist Martha Walter. The 15 x 18 oil on board is framed in a 22K gold reproduction frame and is signed "Martha W...
Category

Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Sunbathers Relaxing On a Sunny Beach Day Dinan, La Plage France
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Sunny Sunbathers signed by Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) size: 15.5 x 18.5 inches inscribed verso oil painting on board, unframed condition: the painting is in very good condition. It h...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Contemporary colorful impressionist nature painting on paper "Magic summer"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Magic summer" is a contemporary colorful impressionist landscape painting which celebrates my love for the south of France. In my art practice I love to use bright colors which bol...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Large-Scale Baltic Figurative Courtyard Genre Scene
Located in Soquel, CA
A substantial mid-century Baltic figurative courtyard genre painting by an unknown Eastern European artist (latvia or Lithuania possible) (20t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Expressive Pen and Ink Drawing of a Seated Nude Woman French Sketch
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Expressive Nude Sketch Josine Vignon (French 1922-2022) signed black biro drawing...
Category

Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Ink, Ballpoint Pen

French Impressionist En Plein Air Oil Painting - Village Scene With Figures
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
French Impressionist 'en plein air' original painting by Maurice Mazeilie (French) oil painting on thin board, unframed stamped verso painting: 4.5 x 7 inches A delightful original...
Category

20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Impressionist figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Impressionist figurative paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add figurative paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Cindy Shaoul, Henri Duhem, Judd Mercer, and Georgij Moroz. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Impressionist figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative paintings made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1 and tops out at $985,000, while the average work sells for $1,874.

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