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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
"Union Square" NYC American Scene Social Realism Modernism WPA Mid-20th Century
Located in New York, NY
"Union Square" NYC American Scene Social Realism Modernism WPA Mid-20th Century Agnes Hart (American, 1912-1979) "Union Square, New York City" Sight: 14 1/2 x 21 1/2 inches Gouache...
Category

1940s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Board

Untitled 3
Located in Bozeman, MT
When I think of where McCauley fits into American art, as a contemporary painter, sculptor and naturalistic interpreter, I place him in the same philosophical tribe as Walton Ford, A...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Wood Panel

Ladies in conversation
Located in Genève, GE
Work on paper Golden wooden frame with glass pane 38.7 x 31 x 1.5 cm
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Crayon, Watercolor, Gouache

Only Pay if We Win (Funny, Billboard, Legend, Iconic, ~26% OFF LIST PRICE)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Annieo Klaas Only Pay if We Win (Yester Oaks and Montlimar) 2024 Oil on Wood Panel 12 x 12 inches (30.48 x 30.48 cm) Signed verso COA provided *Ready to hang Annieo Klaas’s Alabama...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Untitled, Figurative, Black & White, Ink on Paper by Jogen Chowdhury "In Stock"
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Jogen Chowdhury Untitled Ink on Paper 6 x 4 inches, 2025 ( Unframed & Delivered ) Modern Indian artist Jogen Chowdhury executed Still life drawing in Ink, pastel. Always a powerfu...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

French Painting of a Tall Bunch Of Pink And Orange Flowers
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
by Paul-Louis Bolot (French 1918-2003) signed original gouache painting on thick paper/ card unframed condition: very good and sound; the edges have a few curls and scuffs/ edge tear...
Category

20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Moment of Reflections 2
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

Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Photographic Paper

Ceremony of the Cuirassiers -Painting by L. Beraud - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Ceremony of the Cuirassiers is an original painting realized by Louis Beraud in the Early 20th Century. Mixed colored oil painting on canvas. Signed on lower right. Includes frame.
Category

Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Mid Century Figurative Landscape -- The Search
By Winifred Lucy Shaffer
Located in Soquel, CA
Mid Century Figurative Landscape - The Search A dreamlike landscape by Winifred Lucy Shaffer (American, 20th Century). Several figures are clustered together in a forest setting. Th...
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars

1960's French Modernist Oil Bar Tavern Interior Men Hunched over Tables
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Bar Interior French School, circa 1960's indistinctly signed oil on board, framed framed: 18 x 22 inches board: 12 x 16 inches provenance: private collection, France condition: v...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

French Modernist Gouache Painting Of Black & White Roses In Vase
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
by Paul-Louis Bolot (French 1918-2003) signed inverso original gouache painting on thick paper/ card unframed condition: very good and sound; the edges have a few curls and scuffs/ e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Outside the Synagogue Russian Judaica Oil Painting
By Emmanuel Snitkovsky
Located in Surfside, FL
This piece came from the collection of the Bezalel Art Gallery on the Lower East Side of New York City. Emmanuil Snitkovsky is an internationally known artist, sculpture and poet. Emmanuil Snitkovsky was born into a family of artists and scholars from the Odessa Art College in Russia. Immersed in the traditions of Russia art, he approaches form, line, space and color with relentless vision and impeccable technique. Two highly successful artists, the husband and wife team of Emmanuil and Janet Snitkovsky have exhibited a selection of eight large Judaic paintings at the Chabad Chassidic Art Institute (Chai Gallery) in Crown Heights. Three of those paintings are truly singular visions of Jewish Art that cause us to stop and reassess our preconceptions about the meaning and importance of their subjects. Emmanuil and Janet Snitkovsky were both born in the Ukraine in the 1930′s. Emmanuil was trained in Odessa in public monument art, and Janet majored in fashion at the Lvov Decorative Art Institute. After both narrowly survived the devastation of the Second World War in Stalin’s Russia, they began to collaborate on state sponsored art works in 1962. For ten years, they worked on grandiose public sculptural projects to commemorate the fallen Russian heroes of the Second World War in Moscow, Kiev, Tula and Kazan. They were exemplary Soviet Realists working for the Soviet regime. Eventually, this career became untenable for them, both as artists and as Jews, when they clashed with Soviet officialdom over a commission to commemorate the Babi-Yar massacre. The Soviets refused to acknowledge this massacre of 100,000 Jews and eventually suppressed the memorial. In 1978, Emmanuil and Janet arrived in New York and began to recreate their artistic lives. In the ensuing 25 years, they have been quite successful, exhibiting widely in the United States and Europe. They have nurtured a hybrid style of painting and sculpture called “Renaissance Revival” combining contemporary and classical subjects in a stylized realism that evokes both the American regionalist Thomas Hart Benton and the Italian Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli. The works are highly proficient, polished, and commercial productions in a quirky decorative style. They have continued to accept sculptural projects that have not shied away from kitschy realistic sculptures of Charlie Chaplin as “The Kid,” The Little Tramp” and Buster Keaton as “Cameramen.” In some ways, they have appropriated American culture just as they once accepted Soviet culture. Janet, a graduate of the Lvov College, was invited- by virtue of the high honors she achieved there- to matriculate at the Lvov University of Art. Such an opportunity is extremely rare for anyone, particularly for someone of Jewish descent. Their works of art are included in collections of the Japanese Imperial Family...
Category

1980s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Illustration Board

French Modernist Painting Of Pink And Purple Tulips In Clear Glass Vase
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
by Paul-Louis Bolot (French 1918-2003) signed original gouache painting on thick paper/ card unframed condition: very good and sound; the edges have a few curls and scuffs/ edge tear...
Category

20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

(Donald) Trump - original painting
By Lou Ros
Located in London, GB
Portrait of contraversial former President and current Republican nominee Donald Trump by renowned artist Lou Ros Acrylic on canvas signed, dated and titled on reverse by the art...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

20th Century German Modernist Oil Painting Portrait Study of a Man
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist: Elisabeth Hahn (German 1924-2021), Elisabeth Hahn was born in Dortmund, Germany, where she began her artistic studies. In 1953, she moved to Paris. She continued her studie...
Category

20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Blue Nude" Modern Abstract Woman in Style of Modigliani Oil Painting on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Exploring the purity of the feminine form and the drama of French haute couture, artist Cindy Shaoul creates a dialogue between the figurative and the abstract. Her spirited composit...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Oil, Archival Paper

Lavender Fields Provence Huge French Modernist Contemporary Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: Huguette Ginet-Lasnier (French 1927-2020), signed lower front Ginet-Lasnier, the wife of the painter Jean Lasnier, was born in the Seine-Maritime region of France an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Over and Above Surprise (Serpent), 1960s snake painting, Cleveland School
Located in Beachwood, OH
Clarence Holbrook Carter (American, 1904-2000) Over and Above Surprise (Serpent), 1967 Casein on board Signed lower right 7.75 x 5.5 inches Clarence Holbrook Carter achieved a lev...
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Casein

20th Century French Modernist Gouache Painting Pink And Red Tulips In Clear Vase
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
by Paul-Louis Bolot (French 1918-2003) signed original gouache painting on thick paper/ card unframed condition: very good and sound; the edges have a few curls and scuffs/ edge tear...
Category

20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

If Only You Knew the Power of the Dark Side
Located in London, GB
Marco’s background is in engineering and architecture, making him familiar with mathematical design and the awareness of geometry. When he decided to create art, he was naturally dra...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

Pointilliste View of Istanbul - Painting by Stan Reszka - 1951
By Stan Reszka
Located in Roma, IT
Pointilliste View of Istanbul is a modern artwork realized by Stan Reszka in 1951 Oil on Canvas. Hand signed Stan Reszka. Titled, signed, dated on the reverse. Includes frame. S...
Category

1950s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil

Mid-Century Modern Swedish Semi-Abstract Oil Painting - Gathered by the Piano
Located in Bristol, GB
GATHERED BY THE PIANO Size: 32 x 41 cm (including frame) Oil on board An intimate and lively mid-century semi-abstract composition that captures a dynamic group scene, painted in oi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Mid-Century Modern Abstract Geometric Trapeze Artists by Hilda Arp
By Hilda Arp
Located in Soquel, CA
Fanciful mid-century modern abstract of trapeze artists by Brooklyn artist Hilda Dora Pape Arp (b. 1909). This 1962 highly abstracted depiction of trape...
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Linen

Mid 20th Century French Signed Oil River Seine Paris Notre Dame Book sellers
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The River Seine, Paris French School, circa 1950's indistinctly signed lower left corner, 'P. D'arbois'? oil on board, framed oil: 5.25 x 8.25 inches framed: 12 x 15 inches private ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Entertainment, 20th century American family scene watercolor
Located in Beachwood, OH
Frank Nelson Wilcox (American, 1887-1964) The Entertainment, c. 1955 Watercolor on paper Signed lower right 20 x 30 inches Exhibited: 1955 May Show, Cleveland Museum of Art "The first district schools were log houses...
Category

1950s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

Signed 20th Century French Modernist Oil Painting Naked Woman on Beach
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Sur la Plage French Modernist artist, 20th century indistinctly signed oil on canvas, framed inscribed verso framed: 20.5 x 26.5 inches canvas : 20 x 26 inches provenance: private c...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

"The Bather" Modern Abstract Woman in Style of Modigliani Oil Painting on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Exploring the purity of the feminine form and the drama of French haute couture, artist Cindy Shaoul creates a dialogue between the figurative and the abstract. Her spirited composit...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Archival Paper

Beautiful illegibly signed Eastern European oil painting of a City
Located in New York, NY
Here is a beautiful European painting illegibly signed - a true mystery work.
Category

20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

King Tut No. 2, Mid-Century Ovoid Geometrical Abstract Gouache on Paper
Located in Beachwood, OH
Clarence Holbrook Carter (American, 1904-2000) King Tut No. 2, 1968 Gouache on paper Signed and dated upper right 11.25 x 8.25 inches 25.5 x 20.5 inches A surrealist mid-century fig...
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Untitled (Elevated Platform)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This painting is part of our current exhibition - America Coast to Coast: Artists of the 1940s Untitled (Elevated Platform), 1950, oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right, 30 x...
Category

1950s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Huge French Modernist Abstract Oil Painting Nude Lady Sunbathing with Cats
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: French School, 20th century, possibly signed lower right Title: Nude Lady sunbathing surrounded by cats. Medium: oil painting on canvas, unframed canvas: 32 x 5...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Seascape - Oil Paint by Michele Ricciuti - 1980s
Located in Roma, IT
Oil on table realize by Michele Ricciuti in 1980s. Hand signed. In good condition, includes a contemporary wooden frame.
Category

1980s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Huge French Modernist Portrait of Cubist Figure Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"L'usure du Temps" French School, late 20th century signed indistinctly lower right, titled verso oil painting on canvas 55 x 40 inches Magnificent French oil painting on canvas from the close of the 20th century, depicting this haunting figure dressed in what looks to be some sort of coat of armour...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

French Modernist Gouache Painting Posed Yellow Nude Lady With Black Hair
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
by Paul-Louis Bolot (French 1918-2003) signed initials original gouache painting on thick paper/ card unframed condition: very good and sound; the edges have a few curls and scuffs/...
Category

20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Signed Antique African Modernist Figural Landscape Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Exceptionally well painted African landscape painting. Oil on board. Framed. Signed. Image size, 22L x 26H.
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Eye of the Desert, Figural Abstract collage, Surrealist Black & Brown painting
Located in Beachwood, OH
Clarence Holbrook Carter (American, 1904-2000) Eye of the Desert, 1965 Collage, graphite and gouache on paper Signed and dated lower right 16 x 12 inches 25 x 21 inches, framed A mid-century figural abstract painting. Clarence Holbrook Carter achieved a level of national artistic success that was nearly unprecedented among Cleveland School artists of his day, with representation by major New York dealers...
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Graphite

Demitasse
Located in West Hollywood, CA
We are proud to present outstanding original oil on canvas by American artist William Gropper (1897-1977.) William Gropper was an artist and illustrator, known for his exceptional a...
Category

1950s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Two Friends Against Blue" Abstract Monotone Figurative Portrait Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Modern abstract figurative portrait painting by Houston, TX artist David Adickes. The work features two men figures side by side against a blue background....
Category

1990s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Mid Century Modern Vintage Naive Style Street Scene Oil Painting - Market Day
Located in Bristol, GB
MARKET DAY Size: 50 x 74.5 cm (including frame) Oil on board A whimsical and characterful mid-century naïve style street scene composition that captures the vibrant rhythm of daily ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

1950s "Black Floor" Mid Century Bay Area Figurative Movement Gouache Painting
Located in Arp, TX
From the estate of Jerry Opper & Ruth Friedman Opper Black Floor c. 1940-1950's Gouache on Paper 15" x 18" Unframed *Custom framing available for additional charge. Please expect framing time between 3-5 weeks. From the estate of Ruth Friedmann Opper & Jerry Opper. Ruth was the daughter of Bauhaus artist, Gustav Friedmann. San Francisco Abstract Expression A free-spirited wave of creative energy swept through the San Francisco art community after World War II. Challenging accepted modes of painting, Abstract Expressionists produced highly experimental works that jolted the public out of its postwar complacency. Abstract Expressionism resulted from a broad collective impulse rather than the inspiration of a small band of New York artists. Documenting the interchanges between the East and West Coasts, she cites areas of mutual influence and shows the impact of San Francisco on the New York School, including artists such as Mark Rothko and Ad Reinhardt. San Francisco's Beat poets...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Mid Century Boat Docks Pacific Grove Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Painterly scene of boats and boats being built at the docks in old Pacific Grove, California by an unknown artist (American, 20th Century). Signed"WHM" lower left. Presented in a fau...
Category

1950s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Illustration Board

Rise of the Sun in Provence - Original oil painting, Signed
Located in Paris, IDF
André Cottavoz (1922-2012) Rise of the Sun in Provence Original oil painting Signed in the right corner On panel 24 x 41 cm (c. 10 x 16 inch) Very g...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Brothers
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Brothers" by Ademola Ajayi encapsulates the enduring bond shared between siblings with heartfelt authenticity. Inspired by the poignant sentiment expres...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Fabric, Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Pencil

20th Century French Modernist Gouache Painting Portrait Of Inspector In His Hat
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
by Paul-Louis Bolot (French 1918-2003) signed double sided original gouache painting on thick paper/ card unframed condition: very good and sound; the edges have a few curls and scuf...
Category

20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Six O'Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Six O-Clock, c. 1942, oil on canvas, 30 x 20 inches, signed and titled several times verso of frame and stretcher (perhaps by another hand), marked “Rehn” several times on frame (for the Frank K. M. Rehn Galleries in New York City, who represented Craig at the time); Exhibited: 1) 18th Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary American Oil Paintings from March 21 to May 2, 1943 at The Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. #87, original price $450 (per catalog) (exhibition label verso), 2) Craig’s one-man show at the Frank K. M. Rehn Galleries, New York City, from October 26 to November 14, 1942, #10 (original price listed as $350); and 3) Exhibition of thirty paintings sponsored by the Harrisburg Art Association at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg in March, 1944 (concerning this exhibit, Penelope Redd of The Evening News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) wrote: “Other paintings that have overtones of superrealism inherent in the subjects include Tom Craig’s California nocturne, ‘Six O’Clock,’ two figures moving through the twilight . . . .” March 6, 1944, p. 13); another label verso from The Museum of Art of Toledo (Ohio): original frame: Provenance includes George Stern Gallery, Los Angeles, CA About the Painting Long before Chris Burden’s iconic installation outside of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Urban Light, another artist, Tom Craig, made Southern California streetlights the subject of one of his early 1940s paintings. Consisting of dozens of recycled streetlights from the 1920s and 1930s forming a classical colonnade at the museum’s entrance, Burden’s Urban Light has become a symbol of Los Angeles. For Burden, the streetlights represent what constitutes an advanced society, something “safe after dark and beautiful to behold.” It seems that Craig is playing on the same theme in Six O-Clock. Although we see two hunched figures trudging along the sidewalk at the end of a long day, the real stars of this painting are the streetlights which brighten the twilight and silhouette another iconic symbol of Los Angeles, the palm trees in the distance. Mountains in the background and the distant view of a suburban neighborhood join the streetlights and palm trees as classic subject matter for a California Scene painting, but Craig gives us a twist by depicting the scene not as a sun-drenched natural expanse. Rather, Craig uses thin layers of oil paint, mimicking the watercolor technique for which he is most famous, to show us the twinkling beauty of manmade light and the safety it affords. Although Southern California is a land of natural wonders, the interventions of humanity are already everywhere in Los Angeles and as one critic noted, the resulting painting has an air of “superrealism.” About the Artist Thomas Theodore Craig was a well-known fixture in the Southern California art scene. He was born in Upland California. Craig graduated with a degree in botany from Pomona College and studied painting at Pamona and the Chouinard Art School with Stanton MacDonald-Wright and Barse Miller among others. He became close friends with fellow artist Milford Zornes...
Category

1940s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A Beautiful Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Seated Young Woman in a Pink Dress
Located in Chicago, IL
A beautiful, colorful Mid-Century Modern portrait of a seated young woman in a pink dress by famed Chicago Modern artist, Francis Chapin. A fashionably dressed, young model is seate...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

1950's Modernist/ Cubist Painting - The Girl In The Forest
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait by Bernard Labbe (French mid 20th century) original gouache on artist paper, unframed size: 19.5 x 16.5 inches condition: very good and ready to be enjoyed provenance: the ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

"Gigantic George" Modern Blue Toned Pointillist Figurative President Portrait
Located in Houston, TX
Modern blue toned portrait of George Washington by Texas born artist Clark Fox. The work features an intricate depiction of the former president using pointi...
Category

1980s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Simka Simkhovitch WPA Artist Painting Gouache American Modernist Beach Scene
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, Board

"Modernist Portrait, Boy Seated " Mid Century Oil Painting on Board
Located in New York, NY
A strong modernist oil painting depicted in the 1950's of a Boy seated with a bowl of fruits. Comes displayed in a distressed wood frame, signed lower left illegibly. Art measures 1...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

1945 American Modern Oil Painting - Portrait of Artist's Wife with Fruit
By Hayes Lyon
Located in Denver, CO
This captivating 1945 oil painting by acclaimed American artist Hayes Lyon beautifully portrays Bessy Lyon, the artist’s wife, in a warm and intimate composition. Rendered in soft ye...
Category

1940s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

'Betsy Ross Bar & Grill', Santa Cruz Art League, California, Cocktail Hostesses
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
'Betsy Ross Bar & Grill', Santa Cruz Art League, California, Cocktail Hostesses 'The Betsy Ross Bar & Grill', Exhibited: Santa Cruz Art League, California, 1986 Signed lower left, ...
Category

1980s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Spray Paint, Board

A Distinctive Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Man with Red Necktie, Joe Muldoon
Located in Chicago, IL
A distinctive Mid-Century Modern portrait of a man with red necktie by noted Chicago painter, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Chapin's estate records list the sitter as named Joe Mu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Harbor View with Merchants and a Mosque - 19th Century - Painting - Modern
Located in Roma, IT
Harbor View with Merchants and a Mosque, Greek-Roman Buildings and Ships on Background. In excellent conditions. Includes a beautiful contemporary wooden gilded frame...
Category

19th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Dreaming Woman with an Oil Lamp - Handsigned oil on canvas
Located in Paris, IDF
Jean-Baptiste VALADIE Dreaming Woman with an Oil Lamp Original oil on canvas Signed left bottom Presented in a golden wood frame Total size (with the frame) 47 x 36.5 cm (c. 18.5 x ...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

'Portrait of a Young Woman', Bretonne, Brittany, France, Danish Royal Academy
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Agnes Louise Agnete Jensen Weie (Danish, 1878-1964) and painted circa 1911. Provenance: ABR auction 170, 1964, catalog #83, 1964 (see photo); Inscribed, verso, '83/170' from auction ...
Category

1910s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Untitled, Figurative, Dry Pastel on Paper by Jogen Chowdhury "In Stock"
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Jogen Chowdhury Untitled Dry Pastel on Paper 11.6 x 8.3 inches, 2023 ( Framed & Delivered ) Modern Indian artist Jogen Chowdhury executed Still life drawing in Ink, pastel. Always...
Category

2010s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Pastel, Mixed Media

Subway Construction
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This painting is part of our exhibition American Coast to Coast: Artists of the 1930s Subway Construction, c. 1928, oil on board, 19 x 15 ¾ inches, signed upper left, artist and title verso; exhibited: 1) 12th Annual Exhibition of the Society of Independent Artists, The Waldorf Astoria, New York NY, from March 9 to April 1, 1928, no. 864 (original price $250) (see Death Prevailing Theme of Artists in Weird Exhibits, The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec, Canada), March 8, 1928); 2) Boston Tercentenary Exhibition Fine Arts and Crafts Exhibition, Horticultural Hall, Boston MA, July, 1930, no. 108 (honorable mention - noted verso); 3) 38th Annual Exhibition of American Art, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH, June, 1931 (see Alexander, Mary, The Week in Art Circles, The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 7, 1931); and 4) National Art Week Exhibition [Group Show], Montross Gallery, New York, New York, December, 1940 (see Devree, Howard, Brief Comment on Some Recently Opened Exhibitions in the Galleries, The New York Times, December 1, 1940) About the Painting Ernest Stock’s Subway Construction depicts the excavation of New York’s 8th Avenue line, which was the first completed section of the city-operated Independent Subway System (IND). The groundbreaking ceremony was in 1925, but the line did not open until 1932, placing Stock’s painting in the middle of the construction effort. The 8th Avenue line was primarily constructed using the “cut and cover” method in which the streets above the line were dug up, infrastructure was built from the surface level down, the resulting holes were filled, and the streets reconstructed. While many artists of the 1920s were fascinated with the upward thrust of New York’s exploding skyline as architects and developers sought to erect ever higher buildings, Stock turned his attention to the engineering marvels which were taking place below ground. In Subway Construction, Stock depicts workers removing the earth beneath the street and building scaffolding and other support structures to allow concrete to be poured. Light and shadow fall across the x-shaped grid pattern formed by the wooden beams and planks. It is no surprise that critics reviewing the painting commented on Stock’s use of an “interesting pattern” to form a painting that is “clever and well designed.” About the Artist Ernest Richard Stock was an award-winning painter, print maker, muralist, and commercial artist. He was born in Bristol, England and was educated at the prestigious Bristol Grammar School. During World War I, Stock joined the British Royal Air Flying Corps in Canada and served in France as a pilot where he was wounded. After the war, he immigrated to the United States and joined the firm of Mack, Jenny, and Tyler, where he further honed his architectural and decorative painting skills. During the 1920s, Stock often traveled back and forth between the US and Europe. He was twice married, including to the American author, Katherine Anne Porter. Starting in the mid-1920s, Stock began to exhibit his artwork professionally, including at London’s Beaux Arts Gallery, the Society of Independent Artists, the Salons of America, the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Whitney Studio and various locations in the Northeast. Critics often praised the strong design sensibility in Stock’s paintings. Stock was a commercial illustrator for a handful of published books and during World War II, he worked in the Stratford Connecticut...
Category

1920s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Rare Israeli Judaica Watercolor Painting Over Print Bezem
Located in Surfside, FL
Naftali Bezem (Hebrew: נפתלי בזם‎‎; born November 27, 1924) is an Israeli painter, muralist, and sculptor. Bezem was born in Essen, Germany, in 1924. His early adolescence was spent under Nazi oppression, in constant fear for the safety of his parents, who perished in the Holocaust in the Polish Auschwitz concentration camp. Naftali emigrated to Mandate Palestine in 1939, at the age of fourteen with a Youth Aliyah group. From 1943 to 1946, he studied art at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem with Israeli painter Mordecai Ardon...
Category

20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Ink, Watercolor

Roebling's Dream, The Great East River Bridge (NYC Cityscape by William Clutz)
Located in Hudson, NY
Colorful urban street scene of Brooklyn Bridge, NYC City Landscape Painting by William Clutz "Roebling's Dream, The Great East River Bridge", 1990 oil on canvas 40 x 70 inches, 41 3/...
Category

1990s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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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