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Surrealist Figurative Paintings

SURREALIST STYLE

In the wake of World War I’s ravaging of Europe, artists delved into the unconscious mind to confront and grapple with this reality. Poet and critic André Breton, a leader of the Surrealist movement who authored the 1924 Surrealist Manifesto, called this approach “a violent reaction against the impoverishment and sterility of thought processes that resulted from centuries of rationalism.” Surrealist art emerged in the 1920s with dreamlike and uncanny imagery guided by a variety of techniques such as automatic drawing, which can be likened to a stream of consciousness, to channel psychological experiences.

Although Surrealism was a groundbreaking approach for European art, its practitioners were inspired by Indigenous art and ancient mysticism for reenvisioning how sculptures, paintings, prints, performance art and more could respond to the unsettled world around them.

Surrealist artists were also informed by the Dada movement, which originated in 1916 Zurich and embraced absurdity over the logic that had propelled modernity into violence. Some of the Surrealists had witnessed this firsthand, such as Max Ernst, who served in the trenches during World War I, and Salvador Dalí, whose otherworldly paintings and other work responded to the dawning civil war in Spain.

Other key artists associated with the revolutionary art and literary movement included Man Ray, Joan Miró, René Magritte, Yves Tanguy, Frida Kahlo and Meret Oppenheim, all of whom had a distinct perspective on reimagining reality and freeing the unconscious mind from the conventions and restrictions of rational thought. Pablo Picasso showed some of his works in “La Peinture Surréaliste” — the first collective exhibition of Surrealist painting — which opened at Paris’s Galerie Pierre in November of 1925. (Although Magritte is best known as one of the visual Surrealist movement’s most talented practitioners, his famous 1943 painting, The Fifth Season, can be interpreted as a formal break from Surrealism.)

The outbreak of World War II led many in the movement to flee Europe for the Americas, further spreading Surrealism abroad. Generations of modern and contemporary artists were subsequently influenced by the richly symbolic and unearthly imagery of Surrealism, from Joseph Cornell to Arshile Gorky.

Find a collection of original Surrealist paintings, sculptures, prints and multiples and more art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Surrealist
Walking Creature: Contemporary Surreal Figurative Abstract, 2005
Walking Creature: Contemporary Surreal Figurative Abstract, 2005

Walking Creature: Contemporary Surreal Figurative Abstract, 2005

By Michael William Eggleston

Located in Soquel, CA

Walking Creature, Contemporary Surreal Figurative Abstract by Michael William Eggleston Bold and imaginative contemporary figurative abstract by San Francisco artist Michael William...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

The Cliche, Oil Painting
The Cliche, Oil Painting

The Cliche, Oil Painting

By Keith Thomson

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson commissioned a formal family portrait, insisting their beloved pet elephant, Elbert, be included. Elbert is family, after all. When the co...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Confident Figure - Original Figurative Abstract Man in Purple Suit on Blue Wall
Confident Figure - Original Figurative Abstract Man in Purple Suit on Blue Wall

Confident Figure - Original Figurative Abstract Man in Purple Suit on Blue Wall

By Iqi Qoror

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Iqi Qoror's surreal figurative paintings are arresting in their earthy palettes offset by pops of fluorescent textile embroidery. His artworks revolve around questions of trust, inte...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wool, Canvas, Thread, Mixed Media, Acrylic

Strategy
Strategy

Strategy

Located in Zofingen, AG

Strategy (series “1000 and 1 Night”) In this work, the theme of falling in love shifts into the realm of power and control. The space is constructed like a game board, where movement...

Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Island. Women's Sculpture Head, Original Painting
Island. Women's Sculpture Head, Original Painting

Island. Women's Sculpture Head, Original Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Artist Guigen Zha presents a stylized portrait of a woman’s head, adorned with floral and tree-like elements against a backdrop of blue sky, moon, and seascap...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Don't Hurt Me

Don't Hurt Me

By Valton Tyler

Located in Dallas, TX

In The New York Times Arts in America column, Edward M. Gomez writes of Valton Tyler, "visionary seems the right word for describing his vivid, unusual and technically refined painti...

Category

1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Linen

1970's Large French Surrealist Oil Painting Figures on the Beach
1970's Large French Surrealist Oil Painting Figures on the Beach

1970's Large French Surrealist Oil Painting Figures on the Beach

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Surrealist composition French School, dated 1975 verso oil on canvas, framed framed: 33.5 x 27 inches canvas: 32 x 25.5 inches inscribed verso provenance: private collection, France ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Moonlight Acrylic on Masonite, Surrealist, Signed, 1963, Framed
Moonlight Acrylic on Masonite, Surrealist, Signed, 1963, Framed

Moonlight Acrylic on Masonite, Surrealist, Signed, 1963, Framed

By Leonardo Nierman

Located in Cuauhtemoc, Ciudad de México

Title: Moonlight Signed Date: 1963 Leonardo Nierman Mendelejis (Mexico City, November 1, 1932 – June 7, 2023) was a Mexican artist known primarily for his painting and sculpture....

Category

1960s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Acrylic

Dancing Lovers
Dancing Lovers

Dancing Lovers

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this oil painting, I've blended abstract, figurative, and surreal elements to capture the fluid motion and raw emotion of an intimate dance. The intertwining forms, awash in shade...

Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Nude Figurative in Oil on Artist's Board
Nude Figurative in Oil on Artist's Board

Nude Figurative in Oil on Artist's Board

Located in Soquel, CA

Nude study by Andy Smith (American, 20th Century). A woman is seated, slightly leaning to the left of the composition. The background fades from a rusty red to a dark blue, changing ...

Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Illustration Board

20th Century Surrealist Landscape Oil Painting
20th Century Surrealist Landscape Oil Painting

20th Century Surrealist Landscape Oil Painting

Located in Beachwood, OH

Surrealist Landscape Oil on canvas 'R. Lee Glenn' verso 30 x 24.25 inches 31.75 x 26.75 inches, framed Surrealism aims to revolutionize human experience. It balances a rational visi...

Category

20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Surrealist Large Painting Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ Female Blue Green Water
Surrealist Large Painting Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ Female Blue Green Water

Surrealist Large Painting Royal College of Art LGBTQ+ Female Blue Green Water

By Isabel Rock

Located in Norfolk, GB

Isabel Rock is a creator of contemporary fairy tales. A graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, her work is an explosion of strange occurrences while a surreal narrative takes the audience on a journey into the imagination. In October 2023 Isabel won the Evelyn Williams Drawing Award at the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize. Known as the UK’s most prestigious annual open exhibition for drawing; part of the prize is a solo show at Hastings Contemporary, scheduled for 2024. Whilst Isabel always has a tale to tell for each of her images, you may or may not choose to go on the journey with her or you may indeed have a different story, one of your own that jumps off the page at you, that that you decide to follow. Artwork Details: Water, 122 x 152cm, Collaged woodblock print, acrylic inks on Somerset satin paper, 2023 Artwork Provenance: from the Artist Studio photo credits, Isabel working, black and white shots, James Brown In Isabel's own words: Water; Once upon a time there was water. It fell from the sky in clear blue droplets. It made pools and puddles on the ground. The water tasted sweet and pure, it was good to drink, to make soup, to swim in or to wash in. It made the plants and trees grow big and luscious, it was the lifeblood of everything.. Everybody loved water and no one ever questioned where it came from or that one day the rain might stop and there would be no water.  The water women went about their usual business, they made soup, they grew cabbages, they argued and laughed together. The well was always full, there was food aplenty, life thrived. It is sometimes said that ignorance is bliss, and the women did live in bliss although they did not know it. They did not know that one day the rain would stop. It was only when the rain stopped that they knew they had lived in bliss. *Please note we are happy to ship this work rolled in an art tube. Whilst the work is on heavy duty art paper and mixed media, the artist is happy that the painting will be fine rolled in a tube. This is a more cost effective and environmentally sound method of shipping. Shipping via this method is free. About Isabel Rock and her work: Taking inspiration from Japanese woodblock prints and Indian miniature painting Rock has developed a unique collage technique that combines bold structures with large-scale woodblock prints and intricate detailing. The subject is a grand mixture of humour, drama, hidden morals, fanciful characters, modern culture, mythical beings and fantastical situations. Rock creates a world that pulls you in and demands your attention. Quality of line is paramount, the drawings are created using a dipping pen and acrylic ink. An essential tool is a squirrel...

Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Pen

Performance, Nude Figurative Art Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang
Performance, Nude Figurative Art Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang

Performance, Nude Figurative Art Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang

Located in Granada Hills, CA

Figurative art, Nude women painting Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2019 Style: Figurative Art, Title: Performance, Size: 47"...

Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Meeting Figurative Surrealism Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang
Meeting Figurative Surrealism Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang

Meeting Figurative Surrealism Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang

Located in Granada Hills, CA

Tigran Hovumyan Figurative Surrealist Oil Painter Artwork Title: Meeting Medium: Original Oil on Linen Dimensions: 36" x 47" x 1" (91 x 120 x 3 cm) Year: 2012 Unframed, Stretched o...

Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Happy Couple, Mid Century Surrealist Fantasy Landscape by Ohio artist
The Happy Couple, Mid Century Surrealist Fantasy Landscape by Ohio artist

The Happy Couple, Mid Century Surrealist Fantasy Landscape by Ohio artist

By Mary Spain

Located in Beachwood, OH

Mary Spain (American, 1934-1983) The Happy Couple Oil on canvas Signed middle right, signed and titled verso 22 x 26 inches Set in a realm of fantasy, Mary Spain’s work exhibits oddly distorted figures in a child-like manner with an underlying sense of absurdity. Through her toylike and primitive style, Spain created surrealistic dramas that puzzle and entrance the viewer. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Mary Spain studied art at Syracuse University and moved to Ohio in the 1960s to teach art at Chagrin Falls...

Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Tub, Oil Painting
The Tub, Oil Painting

The Tub, Oil Painting

By Keith Thomson

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
This painting is a modern reinterpretation of the English nursery rhyme "Rub-a-dub-dub, Three Men in a Tub," first published in Mother Goose's Melody in 1798. I...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Armando Villagran Original Painting
Armando Villagran Original Painting

Armando Villagran Original Painting

By Armando Villagran

Located in San Francisco, CA

Armando Villagran (Mexican, 1945-1995) Untitled (Figure with Animal), 1991 Oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right Canvas: 55"h x 43.5"w, overall (with frame): 56"h x 44"w Born ...

Category

1990s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

The House at the End of the Road - Original Framed Blue Floral Artwork on Canvas
The House at the End of the Road - Original Framed Blue Floral Artwork on Canvas

The House at the End of the Road - Original Framed Blue Floral Artwork on Canvas

By Carlos Gamez de Francisco

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Carlos Gamez de Francisco’s "The House at the End of the Road" is a striking blend of hyperrealism, figurative surrealism, and imaginative narrative art. This 12-inch round acrylic p...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Untitled Micro-Gestalt H4

Untitled Micro-Gestalt H4

By Airom

Located in Santa Monica, CA

Acrylic and ink on canvas

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Ink, Acrylic

20th Century French Modernist Signed Oil Painting Portrait of Young Girl Green
20th Century French Modernist Signed Oil Painting Portrait of Young Girl Green

20th Century French Modernist Signed Oil Painting Portrait of Young Girl Green

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Tristan Fabris 1970's French surrealist artist signed oil on canvas, framed framed: 19 x 16 inches canvas: 18 x 15 inches private collection, France The painting is in overall sound ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Signed Oil Painting Cadaqués 2001 – Organic Surreal Composition on Cardboard
Signed Oil Painting Cadaqués 2001 – Organic Surreal Composition on Cardboard

Signed Oil Painting Cadaqués 2001 – Organic Surreal Composition on Cardboard

By Antoni Pitxot

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Artist: Antoni Pitxot Title: Untitled (Cadaqués, 2001) Medium: Oil on cardboard Dimensions: 23 × 17 cm (9.05 × 6.69 in) Framing: Unframed Signature: Signed “Pitxot 01” upper right In...

Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Triumph Figurative Surrealism Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang
Triumph Figurative Surrealism Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang

Triumph Figurative Surrealism Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang

Located in Granada Hills, CA

Tigran Hovumyan Figurative Surrealist Oil Painter Artwork Title: Triumph Medium: Original Oil on Linen Dimensions: 40" x 32" x 1" (101 x 81 x 3 cm) Year: 2024 Unframed, Stretched o...

Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Priscilla At Dusk - 21st Century, Surrealism, Africa Woman with Guitar, Musical
Priscilla At Dusk - 21st Century, Surrealism, Africa Woman with Guitar, Musical

Priscilla At Dusk - 21st Century, Surrealism, Africa Woman with Guitar, Musical

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

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. About Artist Bor...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Dile Que No", Surrealist Oil Painting on Canvas, Unframed, 2010+
"Dile Que No", Surrealist Oil Painting on Canvas, Unframed, 2010+

"Dile Que No", Surrealist Oil Painting on Canvas, Unframed, 2010+

Located in San Diego, CA

This is a one of a kind original oil and resin painting by San Diego artist, Julia San Roman. Its dimensions are 36" x 60" It is unframed. A certificate of authenticity will follow d...

Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

10 Angry Men
10 Angry Men

10 Angry Men

Located in Zofingen, AG

I have sent my work to over 65 countries and some significant landmarks such as Berkeley Square in London’s Mayfair, 5th Ave New York, Malibu beach in California Hong Kong, Monaco, M...

Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Star-Crossed, Oil Painting
Star-Crossed, Oil Painting

Star-Crossed, Oil Painting

By Keith Thomson

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Two astronauts sit across from each other, the table between them barely separating their bodies as they lean in close. It was a first date, and they had a wond...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Narrowing Down of Molly Hinglebottom, Oil Painting
The Narrowing Down of Molly Hinglebottom, Oil Painting

The Narrowing Down of Molly Hinglebottom, Oil Painting

By Diane Flick

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A girl with a yellow Gerbera daisy for a head holds an orange refrigerator with human limbs in one hand and a cupcake topped with a telephone on the other. This...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Bulb of Africa 3
Bulb of Africa 3

Iyiola OdunayoBulb of Africa 3, 2023

$1,200Sale Price|20% Off

Bulb of Africa 3

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Bulb of Africa was not just a hairstyle; it was a celebration of African heritage and a testament to the resilience of its people. Passed down through generations, it represented strength, beauty, and the rich tapestry of African traditions. The Bulb showcased the natural texture and volume of African hair, transforming it into an intricate masterpiece of braids, twists, and coils. The Bulb of Africa became a symbol of empowerment, reminding people of their strength, resilience, and the beauty of their shared heritage. It served as a reminder that hair was more than a physical attribute; it was a connection to something greater—a connection to their ancestors, their community, and celebrating the beauty within themselves. Beyond their physical beauty, African women possess an immeasurable inner strength that resonates through "Bulb of Africa." Odunayo masterfully captures this strength, highlighting the resilience and determination that have defined African women throughout history. The women depicted in the artwork emanate confidence, wisdom, and a sense of purpose. Their gaze speaks volumes, embodying the stories of countless African women who have overcome adversity, shattered barriers, and carved out their own paths to success. In "Bulb of Africa," Iyiola Odunayo...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

My Imperfection Gaze - 21st Century, Contemporary, Surrealism, African Woman
My Imperfection Gaze - 21st Century, Contemporary, Surrealism, African Woman

My Imperfection Gaze - 21st Century, Contemporary, Surrealism, African Woman

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

A portrait can tell a story, my artistic pieces highlight the exploration of the complexity of human identity, space and existence. My imagery embodies the unconventional expression ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Glitter, Acrylic

A Walk in Fantasy, Abstract Figures and Plants, Surreal Painting in Vivid Tones
A Walk in Fantasy, Abstract Figures and Plants, Surreal Painting in Vivid Tones

A Walk in Fantasy, Abstract Figures and Plants, Surreal Painting in Vivid Tones

Located in Barcelona, ES

In this series, Perrine explores the profound relationship between light and color, both essential elements in her artistic expression. Without light, there would be no colors, and i...

Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Paper, Oil Crayon

I was offended.
I was offended.

I was offended.

Located in Zofingen, AG

She is offended. And no gifts, champagne or words will melt this ice. What did her Man do - we can only guess. May be he forget about the anniversary, bought the wrong flowers, cheat...

Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Light Angel Figurative  Surrealism Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang
Light Angel Figurative  Surrealism Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang

Light Angel Figurative Surrealism Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang

Located in Granada Hills, CA

Tigran Hovumyan Figurative Surrealist Oil Painter Artwork Title: Light Angel Medium: Original Oil on Linen Dimensions: 36" x 39" x 1" (91 x 100 x 3 cm) Year: 2012 Unframed, Stretche...

Category

2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sheba Raven Cloak, Hatshepsut - Original Painting of Egyptian Goddess Figure
Sheba Raven Cloak, Hatshepsut - Original Painting of Egyptian Goddess Figure

Sheba Raven Cloak, Hatshepsut - Original Painting of Egyptian Goddess Figure

By Oliver Hazard Benson

Located in Chicago, IL

Oliver Hazard’s paintings are produced directly from his imagination and deals with a mixture of imagery he has witnessed in his travels, dreams, and read about in literature. The ar...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Pillar of Strength 3 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Woman, African
Pillar of Strength 3 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Woman, African

Pillar of Strength 3 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Woman, African

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Pillar of Strength” is a radiant fabric collage painting that pays homage to the unshakable resilience, grace, and dignity of the African woman. Composed entirely from intricately la...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Fabric, Canvas

Not Alone - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Women, Flora
Not Alone - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Women, Flora

Not Alone - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Women, Flora

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

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 About Artist Oluw...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

French Surrealist Oil Painting Figurative Scene Male Nudes in Desert
French Surrealist Oil Painting Figurative Scene Male Nudes in Desert

French Surrealist Oil Painting Figurative Scene Male Nudes in Desert

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Figurative Abstract French School oil painting on board painting: 20 x 24 inches condition: overall very good and pleasing provenance: from a private collection of this artists work ...

Category

20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Harvest is Ready - 21st Century, Contemporary, Surrealism, African Nature, Child

Harvest is Ready - 21st Century, Contemporary, Surrealism, African Nature, Child

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

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. Akanji Bolaji (b...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Poetry of the bird, surrealist drawing, 1948
Poetry of the bird, surrealist drawing, 1948

Poetry of the bird, surrealist drawing, 1948

Located in PARIS, FR

Joséphine Beaudouin (1909-2005) Poetry of the Bird, surrealist painting, 1948 Oil on canvas Signed "Joséphine Beaudouin" and dated "1948" lower left 13,7 x 10,6 inch Born in Albi in 1909, Josephine Beaudouin (née Cals) showed an early interest in drawing. At the age of twelve, she moved to Paris where her mother, Jeanne Ramel-Cals, ran a literary salon that was frequented by art world figures such as Ambroise Vollard. In 1925, while her first drawings appeared in the magazine Crapouillot, the young artist entered the School of Decorative Arts where she studied fresco painting. She married the architect Eugène Beaudouin in 1928, with whom she traveled throughout Europe. Beaudouin, a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts, designed a series of buildings that were precursors of modern architecture in France (Clichy, Maison du Peuple; Antony, Résidence universitaire Jean Zay). Josephine Beaudouin exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants, the Salon des Tuileries, the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs. The work of the one that Jean Cocteau described as "bewitching" is full of mystery. Her work bears the stamp of an extraordinary personality. Indeed, Josephine Beaudouin developed a penchant for dreams at a very early age and took refuge in the works illustrated by Gustave Doré. Her technical virtuosity and overflowing imagination were praised by the critics of her time who unanimously greeted her Marmorées (ill.1). Named by René Barotte, these are paintings made on marble slabs from 1955. The artist exploits the infinite resources of the veins of this support which inspires him poetic compositions with unusual subjects. Marked by surrealism, she returns to the fantastic by delivering a prodigious creation of the mind made of dreamed cities and trompe-l'oeil. The 1948 painting that we propose probably represents a red-billed chough. The bird is a recurring theme in the work of Josephine Beaudouin, as in her life. An avid ornithologist, she kept an aviary in her Parisian home where many island birds were kept. She also built up a collection of stuffed birds. Still on this theme, the writer Claude Aveline (1901-1992), author of the poem L'Oiseau-Qui-N'Existe-Pas, invited several visual artists to freely interpret what this bird could be. The first series of works was produced between 1956 and 1963. In 1957, Joséphine Beaudouin delivered a work with a pen of great finesse, now preserved at the Centre Pompidou (ill.2). Several renowned artists also responded to the invitation of the poet such as Jean Cocteau and Ossip Zadkine. The precision of the graphics of our painting testifies to an attentive observation of the anatomy of the birds. The artist paints with great delicacy: the technique is impeccable, the drawing is careful, the material is smooth, the details are represented with great finesse and mastery. Bibliography : Fernand Pouillon...

Category

1940s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Enormous 1980's French Surrealist Painting Rainbow over Greek Fantasy Landscape
Enormous 1980's French Surrealist Painting Rainbow over Greek Fantasy Landscape

Enormous 1980's French Surrealist Painting Rainbow over Greek Fantasy Landscape

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

The Rainbow French School, signed with monogram and dated 1985 oil painting on canvas, unframed: 77 x 31 inches condition: overall very good, a few very small indents to the giant canvas but no holes, rips or damage. provenance: from a collection in France One of the largest paintings we have available at the moment, this staggering painting is very beautiful with the deep blue sky, the rainbow arching through the landscape, set against the backdrop of a fantasy Greek/ Romanesque landscape with ancient columns...

Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Digital World, Oil Painting
Digital World, Oil Painting

Digital World, Oil Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A young boy stands indoors, absorbed in his mobile device. Just beyond an open door, a polar bear looms inside the house, its mouth open as if roaring. The brig...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Nereid - Nude Female Figure with Elongated Limbs in Outstretched Yoga Pose
Nereid - Nude Female Figure with Elongated Limbs in Outstretched Yoga Pose

Nereid - Nude Female Figure with Elongated Limbs in Outstretched Yoga Pose

By Oliver Hazard Benson

Located in Chicago, IL

Nereid is a sea nymph, a female spirit of sea waters. She symbolizes everything that is beautiful and kind about the sea. Her melodious voice sing as she dances and twists on a sea ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

Random Access, Surrealist Oil Painting by Mark Kostabi
Random Access, Surrealist Oil Painting by Mark Kostabi

Random Access, Surrealist Oil Painting by Mark Kostabi

By Mark Kostabi

Located in Long Island City, NY

Random Access Mark Kostabi, American (1960) Date: 1988 Oil on Canvas, signed and dated lower right, signed, title and dated on verso Size: 42 x 30 in. (106.68 x 76.2 cm)

Category

1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Surrealist figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist 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, purple, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Rudolf Kosow, Carlos Gamez De Francisco, Henry David Potwin, Ferjo, and Fernando de Jesus Oliveira. 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 Surrealist figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 2.13 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 $400,000, while the average work sells for $3,770.