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Modern Figurative Paintings

MODERN STYLE

The first decades of the 20th century were a period of artistic upheaval, with modern art movements including Cubism, Surrealism, Futurism and Dadaism questioning centuries of traditional views of what art should be. Using abstraction, experimental forms and interdisciplinary techniques, painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers and performance artists all pushed the boundaries of creative expression.

Major exhibitions, like the 1913 Armory Show in New York City — also known as the “International Exhibition of Modern Art,” in which works like the radically angular Nude Descending a Staircase by Marcel Duchamp caused a sensation — challenged the perspective of viewers and critics and heralded the arrival of modern art in the United States. But the movement’s revolutionary spirit took shape in the 19th century.

The Industrial Revolution, which ushered in new technology and cultural conditions across the world, transformed art from something mostly commissioned by the wealthy or the church to work that responded to personal experiences. The Impressionist style emerged in 1860s France with artists like Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne and Edgar Degas quickly painting works that captured moments of light and urban life. Around the same time in England, the Pre-Raphaelites, like Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, borrowed from late medieval and early Renaissance art to imbue their art with symbolism and modern ideas of beauty.

Emerging from this disruption of the artistic status quo, modern art went further in rejecting conventions and embracing innovation. The bold legacy of leading modern artists Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dalí, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Piet Mondrian and many others continues to inform visual culture today.

Find a collection of modern paintings, sculptures, prints and other fine art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Modern
Color:  Purple
"The Touch of the Sun" - Dolomit - Oil Paint by Adriano Bernetti Da Vila - 2023
Located in Roma, IT
Title: "The touch of the Sun" Composition: The painting is dominated by a sweeping vista of the Dolomites, with the mountains rising majestically in the distance. We can see also a ...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Barche
Located in Firenze, FI
Enrico Paulucci's artwork "Barche" is a stunning painting with vibrant blue colors in the background. This piece is deeply connected to Liguria, his region in Italy, as it captures ...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"The Caress of Dawn"-Dolomiti - Oil Paint by Adriano Bernetti Da Vila - 2023
Located in Roma, IT
Composition: The painting is freely inspired by Lake Carezza in the Dolomites. The painting shows a lake with the trees of the surrounding forest reflected in it, whith  a sweeping ...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Kamdhenu, Figurative, Watercolour on Paper by Modern Artist "In Stock"
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Sakti Burman - Kamdhenu Watercolour on Paper 14 x 20 inches Born : 1935 Kolkata Education : 1956 Government College of Arts and Crafts in Kolkata and the Ecole Nationale des Beaux ...
Category

1980s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Paper

Untitled, Figurative, Watercolour on Paper by Modern Artist "In Stock"
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Sakti Burman - Untitled Watercolour on Paper 26 x 20 inches, 1960 Born : 1935 Kolkata Education : 1956 Government College of Arts and Crafts in Kolkata and the Ecole Nationale des ...
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Paper

Windsurfing with girl in pink, 1986 Modern British oil painting by Ewart Johns
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
A fine painting by Ewart Johns portraying a girl windsurfing in a Modern British style with Fresh colours, bold brushstrokes and a sense of energy and dynamism. The work captures th...
Category

20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Gordon Barker, It's Snowing, Original Landscape Painting, Winter Art, Bright Art
Located in Deddington, GB
It’s Snowing by Gordon Barker [2016] original Acrylic on paper Image size: H:25.5 cm x W:35 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:25.5 cm x W:35 cm x D:0...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

“Abstract in Purple & Red”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original monotype on heavy archival paper by the Russian/American artist, Nahum Tschacbasov. Image size is 16 by 12. Sheet size is 21.25 by 15.5 inches A monotype is a one of a kin...
Category

1950s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Monotype, Archival Paper

Gladys Williamson, 'Lady With a Parrot' Gouache Art Deco Poster Design (c.1931)
Located in London, GB
To see our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - or send us a message if you cannot find the artist you want. Gladys Williamson (1914 - 2007) 'Lady With A Parrot...
Category

1930s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Lemmy Gonthier - Body 7
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Lemmy Gonthier - Body 7 Acrylic Numbered and signed lower right of the work Dimensions: 70 x 50 Circa 2014 The human body is at the center of Lemmy's work. His taste for large forma...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

Lemmy Gonthier - Body 4
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Lemmy Gonthier - Body 4 Acrylic Numbered and signed lower right of the work Dimensions: 70 x 50 Circa 2014 The human body is at the center of Lemmy's work. His taste for large forma...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

Forest, Etching on Paper, Black, White by Modern Indian Artist "In Stock"
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Laxma Gaud - Untitled - 9.75 x 13.5 inches (unframed size) Etching on paper Inclusive of shipment in roll form. Style : Goud displays versatility over a range of mediums, from print...
Category

1970s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Etching, Paper

Birds in Flight
Located in Buffalo, NY
A modern Chinese watercolor painting depicting birds soaring under a red sun.
Category

1970s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Watercolor

Figurative Abstract
Located in Missouri, MO
Ernest Tino Trova "Figurative Abstract" 1965 Oil on Canvas approx 17 x 12.5 inches Signed and Dated Lower Right Known for his Falling Man series in abstract figural sculpture, he cr...
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Camilla
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Presenting a rare, early original oil painting, "Camilla", by American artist Robert McIntosh(1916-2010) McIntosh was extremely prolific and exhibited throughout his lifetime, inclu...
Category

1930s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

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'Old Fishing Boat', Italian Tuscan School
Located in London, GB
'Old Fishing Boat', oil on canvas, Italian Tuscan School, (1972). Glimmering reflections on the water outline the hull of an old fishing boat in the port...
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1970s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

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Vintage Mid-Century Swedish Unframed Figurative Oil Painting - Affection
Located in Bristol, GB
AFFECTION Size: 41 x 33 cm Oil on board A tender and captivating mid-century figurative painting, executed in oil onto board and dated 1944. A female figure in a flowing red dress ...
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1940s Modern Figurative Paintings

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Vintage Mid-Century Modern Figurative Portrait Framed Oil Painting - Lone
Located in Bristol, GB
LONE Oil on Board Size: 52 x 44.5 cm (including frame) A very well done mid-century modernist portrait composition, executed in oil onto board. A single seated figure sits alone, l...
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1950s Modern Figurative Paintings

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Les Halles Food Market
Located in London, GB
'Les Halles Food Market', oil on canvas (circa 1960s), by Roland Hamon. This artwork captures a typical day in the old food markets of Paris, called Les Ha...
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1960s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

1950's French Oil Painting Portrait of Beautiful Young Lady La Napolitaine
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
'La Napolitaine' by Jean Gagnaud, French mid 20th century signed oil on canvas, framed framed: 20 x 18.5 inches canvas: 15 x 13 inches provenance: private collection, France conditio...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

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Moment of Reflections 1
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
In "Moment of Reflections," Olatunbosun transports the audience into a world of contemplation and self-discovery. The centerpiece of the artwork is a young man seated in a casual, relaxed manner. His pose conveys a sense of tranquility as if he has found solace in the moments of quiet contemplation. The attention to detail in the artwork is striking, with intricate brushwork bringing out the textures of the subject's clothing and the surrounding environment. The setting of the artwork is deliberately minimalistic, allowing the viewer to focus entirely on the young man's expression and demeanor. The background is a subtle blend of soft colors, suggesting an ethereal space where thoughts roam freely. This simplicity further accentuates the theme of reflection, as the absence of distractions allows viewers to immerse themselves in their own thoughts while contemplating the emotions conveyed by the subject. Olatunbosun's "Moment of Reflections" is a remarkable piece that resonates deeply with viewers from all walks of life. The young man's expression exudes a sense of inner peace, prompting viewers to ponder their own life experiences and contemplate the paths they have taken. This introspective quality of the artwork creates an intimate connection between the audience and the subject, allowing for a deeply personal and emotional experience. The painting's title, "Moment of Reflections," is deliberately chosen to reinforce the idea of taking a moment for self-exploration and soul-searching. In the hustle and bustle of modern life, we often overlook the importance of pausing and reflecting on our journey. Olatunbosun's artwork serves as a gentle reminder to find time for introspection and to appreciate the beauty in moments of quietude. What makes "Moment of Reflections" even more extraordinary is its ability to transcend cultural boundaries. The emotions depicted in the artwork are universal, touching the core of human experiences. Whether the viewer is from the artist's homeland or halfway across the world, the profound message remains relevant – we all share moments of contemplation and self-discovery in our lives. In conclusion, Samson Olatunbosun's "Moment of Reflections" is a timeless masterpiece that captures the human spirit with its simplicity and emotional depth. Through his brilliant artistic skill, Olatunbosun creates an atmosphere of introspection, inviting viewers to engage in their own moments of contemplation and self-discovery. This extraordinary artwork serves as a poignant reminder of the power of art to connect us all through our shared humanity and emotions. As we gaze upon the young man seated in a relaxed manner, we are reminded to embrace the beauty of silence, to reflect on our past, and to seek meaning in the present – a truly profound and impactful journey offered by the artistic genius of Samson Olatunbosun. Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gallery) About Artist Samson Olatubosun...
Category

19th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Photographic Paper, Acrylic, Oil, Canvas

Moment of Reflections 1
Moment of Reflections 1
No Reserve
H 36 in W 36 in D 1 in
1998 Vintage Swedish Framed Cityscape Oil Painting by Uno Vallman - City Tour
Located in Bristol, GB
CITY TOUR Size: 64.5 x 56 cm (including frame) Oil on Canvas A lively and energetic city street scene composition, executed in oil onto canvas and dated 1998 by Swedish artist Uno V...
Category

1990s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Mid-Century Modern Expressive Street Scene Framed Oil Painting - Crossing Paths
Located in Bristol, GB
CROSSING PATHS Oil on Board Size: 60.5 x 52 cm (including frame) A lively and expressive mid-century modernist style narrative street scene composition, executed in oil onto board. ...
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Board, Oil

Simka Simkhovitch WPA Artist Oil Painting Gouache American Modernist Powerline
Located in Surfside, FL
Simka Simkhovitch (Russian/American 1893 - 1949) This came with a small grouping from the artist's family, some were hand signed some were not. These were studies for larger paintings. Simka Simkhovitch (Симха Файбусович Симхович) (aka Simka Faibusovich Simkhovich) (Novozybkov, Russia May 21, 1885 O.S./June 2, 1885 N.S.—Greenwich, Connecticut February 25, 1949) was a Ukrainian-Russian Jewish artist and immigrant to the United States. He painted theater scenery in his early career and then had several showings in galleries in New York City. Winning Works Progress Administration (WPA) commissions in the 1930s, he completed murals for the post offices in Jackson, Mississippi and Beaufort, North Carolina. His works are in the permanent collections of the Dallas Museum of Art, the National Museum of American Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Born outside Kyiv (Petrograd Ukraine) into a Jewish family who owned a small department store. During a severe case of measles when he was seven, Simcha Simchovitch sketched the views outside his window and decided to become an artist, over his father's objections. Beginning in 1905, he studied at the Grekov Odessa Art School and upon completion of his studies in 1911 received a recommendation to be admitted to the Imperial Academy of Arts. Though he enrolled to begin classes in architecture, painting, and sculpture at the Imperial Academy, he was dropped from the school roster in December because of the quota on the number of Jewish students and drafted into the army. Simchovitch served as a private in the 175th Infantry Regiment Baturyn [ru] until his demobilization in 1912. Re-enrolling in the Imperial Academy, he audited classes. Simka Simkhovitch exhibited paintings and sculptures in 1918 as part of an exhibition of Jewish artists and in 1919 placed 1st in the competition "The Great Russian Revolution" with a painting called "Russian Revolution" which was hung in the State Museum of Revolution. In 1922, Simkha Simkhovitch exhibited at the International Book Fair in Florence (Italian: Fiera Internazionale del Libro di Firenze). In 1924, Simkhovitch came to the United States to make illustrations for Soviet textbooks and decided to immigrate instead. Initially he supported himself by doing commercial art and a few portrait commissions. In 1927, he was hired to paint a screen for a scene in the play "The Command to Love" by Fritz Gottwald and Rudolph Lothar which was playing at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway. Art dealers began clamoring for the screen and Simkhovitch began a career as a screen painter for the theater. Catching the attention of the screenwriter, Ernest Pascal, he worked as an illustrator for Pascal, who then introduced him to gallery owner, Marie Sterner. Simkhovitch's works appeared at the Marie Sterner Gallery beginning with a 1927 exhibit and were repeated the following year. Simkhovitch had an exhibit in 1929 at Sterner's on circus paintings. In 1931, he held a showing of works at the Helen Hackett Gallery, in New York City and later that same year he was one of the featured artists of a special exhibit in San Francisco at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park. The exhibit was coordinated by Marie Sterner and included four watercolors, including one titled "Nudes". He is of the generation of Russian Soviet artists such as Isaac Pailes, Serge Charchoune, Marc Chagall, Chana Orloff, Isaac Ilyich Levitan, and Ossip Zadkine. In 1936, Simkhovitch was selected to complete the mural for the WPA Post office project in Jackson, Mississippi. The mural was hung in the post office and courthouse in 1938 depicted a plantation theme. Painted on the wall behind the judge’s bench, “Pursuits of Life in Mississippi”, a depiction of black workers engaged in manual labor amid scenes of white professionals and socialites, was eventually covered over in later years during renovations due to its stereotypical African American imagery. Simka painted what he thought was typical of Jackson. His impression of pre-civil rights Mississippi was evidently Greek Revival column houses, weeping willow trees, working class families, and the oppression of African Americans. He painted African American men picking cotton, while a white man took account of the harvest and a white judge advised a white family, calling it Pursuits of Life in Mississippi. Though clearly endorsed by the government and initially generally well-received, the mural soon raised concerns with locals as the climate toward racial segregation began to change. The main concern was whether depictions that show African Americans in subjugated societal roles should be featured in a courtroom. The following year, his painting "Holiday" won praise at an exhibition in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1940, Simkhovitch's second WPA post office project was completed when four murals, "The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Orville W. Mail Boat", "The Wreck of the Crissie Wright", "Sand Ponies" and "Canada Geese" were installed in Beaufort, North Carolina. The works were commissioned in 1938 and did not generate the controversy that the Jackson mural had. The main mural is "The Wreck of the Crissie Wright" and depicts a shipwreck which had occurred in Beaufort in 1866. "The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Orville W. Mail Boat" depicted the lighthouse built in 1859 and the mail boat that was running mail during the time which Simkhovitch was there. The boat ran mail for the area until 1957. "Sand Ponies" shows the wild horses common to the North Carolina barrier islands and "Canada Geese" showed the importance of hunting and fishing in the area. All four murals were restored in the 1990s by Elisabeth Speight, daughter of two other WPA muralists, Francis Speight...
Category

1930s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Oil, Board

Simka Simkhovitch WPA Artist Oil Painting American Modernist Landscape w Tower
Located in Surfside, FL
Simka Simkhovitch (Russian/American 1893 - 1949) This came with a small grouping from the artist's family, some were hand signed some were not. Thes...
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1930s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Mid-Century Modern Swedish Figurative Oil Painting - Coastal Dock, Framed
Located in Bristol, GB
COASTAL DOCK Size: 45 x 49.5 cm (including frame) Oil on board A vibrant and expressive mid-century figurative painting, executed in oil onto board. The composition depicts a bustl...
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1950s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Figurative landscape oil painting- Purple Memory
Located in Beijing, CN
Dai Xiangwen was born in Hunan in 1991 and graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts of Jianghan University, He is a member of China Artists Association, China Designers Association, a painter of Li Keran...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Previously Available Items
Le retour du soir (The Return of the Evening)
Located in New Orleans, LA
Combining abstract and expressionist elements with dynamic brushwork and pulsating color, this intriguing oil on canvas is the work of the famed French painter André Brasilier. Brasilier’s paintings contain a unique blend of entrancing figures, balanced color harmonies and a feeling of intimate communication with the natural world, and this work, entitled Le retour...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Carmen Miranda Latin American Modernism Hollywood Portrait Mid 20th Century WPA
By Paul Meltsner
Located in New York, NY
Carmen Miranda Latin American Modernism Hollywood Portrait Mid 20th Century WPA. 35 ¼ x 30 inches. Oil on canvas, 1942. Signed lower right. Titled and s...
Category

1940s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Abstract Pink Cadillac, Mid-Century Shapes Painting on Paper in Yellow and Gray
Located in Barcelona, ES
"Abstract Pink Cadillac" is a hand-painted acrylic painting on high-quality 300g paper by artist Ryan Rivadeneyra. These painting, influenced by moderni...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel, Ink, Sumi Ink, Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Archival Paper

Night in Alghero - Original Oil on Canvas by Luciano Sacco - 1980s
Located in Roma, IT
Night in Alghero is an original artwork realized in 1980s century by Luciano Sacco. Mixed colored oil on canvas. Hand-signed by the artist on the lower right margin. The state of p...
Category

1980s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Duet, India Mythology, Oil, Acrylic on Canvas Blue, Red, Yellow Colour "In Stock"
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Shuvaprasanna Bhattacharya - The Golden Flute - 30 x 30 inches (unframed size) Oil, Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas Inclusive of shipment in a roll form. One of the most popular s...
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2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Mixed Media

Marilyn LIMITED EDITION Black & Silver
Located in East Hampton, NY
LIMITED EDITION Black & Silver Marilyn Monroe Hand worked, Unframed World-renowned guru of Jap Pop Art - Zane Fix, is an American artist, born in Brooklyn, New York. The art of Zan...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Marilyn LIMITED EDITION Black & Silver
Located in East Hampton, NY
LIMITED EDITION Series of 3 3/3 Black & Silver Marilyn Monroe Hand worked, Unframed World-renowned guru of Jap Pop Art - Zane Fix, is an American artist, born in Brooklyn, New York....
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Woman in Kimono
Located in Surfside, FL
Boris Vassiloff, Russian/American (1906 - 2000) Artist Boris Vassiloff was born on March 24, 1906 to Julia Nikolaevna and Boris Ivanovich Vassiloff in Russia. He died peacefully on D...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

COLOR HER ROSE
Located in Los Angeles, CA
W. F. SHUMANN "COLOR HER ROSE" OIL ON CANVAS, SIGNED, TITLED AMERICAN, DATED 1965 20 X 30 INCHES Very nice modern frame.
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Plumeria Night - Surreal Nocturnal Figurative Landscape with Vase of Flowers
Located in Soquel, CA
Plumeria Night - Surreal Nocturnal Figurative Landscape with Vase of Flowers Plumeria night, a large dynamic oil painting by Marguerite Blasingame (American, 1906-1947), c.1935. Th...
Category

1930s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

King of the World Gold
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing ...
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21st Century and Contemporary Modern Figurative Paintings

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Oil, Paper

Modern figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Modern 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, orange, yellow, purple and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Antonio Feltrinelli, Sunil Das, Suhas Roy, and Clarence Holbrook Carter. 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 Modern 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 $743,750, while the average work sells for $2,376.

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