Skip to main content

Modern Portrait 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.

to
2
2
2
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
10
31
24
13
9
2
2
Style: Modern
Artist: Enrique Kico Govantes
White Head #3
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Enrique Kico Govantes (Cuban, born 1957) Title: White Head #3 Year: Circa 1983 Medium: Oil on hardboard panel Panel size: 12 x 9 inches Sig...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

White Head #2
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Enrique Kico Govantes (Cuban, born 1957) Title: White Head #2 Year: Circa 1990 Medium: Oil on hardboard panel Panel size: 12 x 9 inches Sig...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Related Items
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 ...
Category

1940s Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

"Mother and Daughter"
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
The main feature of his work is the overlap between "serious" painting and images drawn from the world of advertising, illustration and comic strips. Pictorial influences range from ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Sitzende Frau
By Fritz Schmidt
Located in Wien, 9
signed on the lower left The painting can be categorised in the tradition of New Objectivity. The picture shows a real scene, the woman depicted stares into space with a serious and...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sitzende Frau
Sitzende Frau
H 22.84 in W 17.72 in
Daughter's portrait. Cardboard, oil, 98x77 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Daughter's portrait. Cardboard, oil, 98x77 cm Laimdots Murnieks has said: "I am a sunny artist. The sun and a woman are the center of the world. It is not for nothing that the sun a...
Category

1970s Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Vintage Mid-Century Framed Figurative Oil Painting - Double Sided Portrait I
Located in Bristol, GB
DOUBLE SIDED PORTRAIT I Size: 48 x 30cm unframed Oil on board An intriguing double sided oil on board: one side depicts a pair of women looking into a book, and the other side featu...
Category

1950s Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

vagabonds oil on board painting modernism art
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Oil measures 70x50 cm. Frame measures 83x63 cm. Painter of landscapes and figures, in whose characterization he deepens psychologically capturing the character, Albert Roca has won...
Category

1990s Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Board, Oil

Bohemians
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Presenting a just arrived original oil painting by Azerbaijani artist Fidan Kim. Bohemians, is an original oil on canvas, signed, dated 2019 with an image dimension of 47 x 35 inches, just arrived from the personal collection of the artist. Please contact the gallery for additional information, pricing and availability. The artist’s description: This painting is referring to people living in beautiful golden cages since they are captivated by stereotypes of bohemian lifestyle, and when they leave these cages they don’t know how to use their beautiful strong wings. They are not capable to exist outside and walk far away from their cages, which is why their wings snugly fit their bodies almost hiding and guarding their real beauty from the gossiping society. The middle right figure is Medusa Gorgon and right next to her covering her with his huge wing is her lover Poseidon. The Ancient Greek myth about Medusa says that she was one of the trio Gorgon sisters, the only immortal one. Medusa Gorgon is famed for her snake like hair and her gaze which turns those who look at her into stone. Medusa was once a beautiful priestess of Athena, Goddess of war and wisdom. When Gorgon had a love affair with God of the sea and earthquakes Poseidon, Athena punished her. The Goddess of War turned Medusa into a hideous creature making her hair into writhing snakes and her skin was turned a greenish blue. From that day on Medusa Gorgon became a monster we all now know. Two figures next to Medusa and Poseidon are Stheno and Euryale. They are sisters of Medusa who witnessed everything, but chose to stay in the shadow covering their faces with their wings. And finally the bottom figure is Hermès, God of commerce and thieves who helped Athena and Perseus to kill Medusa Gorgon. For me this myth represents some aspects and stereotypes of Bohemian lifestyle, people hiding themselves from judgment and gossip, at the same time putting themselves into golden cages.. It also represents the forbidden love and revenge About Fidan Kim: Fidan Kim was born in Baku, Azerbaijan on the 21th of August 1997. 2014-2018 – BA FINE ARTS AZERBAIJAN STATE ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS 2018-2020 – MA FINE ARTS AZERBAIJAN STATE ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS August 2009 – “Young Talents Exploring Visual Arts” summer art courses at the Edinborough Art College August 2010 – “Art al Sole” summer art courses in Italy August 2011 - “Art al Sole” summer art courses in Italy October 2013 – a solo exhibition “The last day of the childhood” November 2014 – a solo exhibition “”Paradoxes” March 2015 – participation at a master class given by a renowned artist, Professor Inge H. Schmidt from the Berlin University of the Arts, Germany organized by ADRA June 2015 – VI International Art Festival June 2016 – an art exhibition “Futurismo Ora” at the “Lamborghini” salon October 2016 – participation at the Shopping festival Carrousel du Louvre Art in Paris December 2016 – art courses at the Georgian State Academy of Art within the exchange program Art) February 2017 – Gave art classes at Yarat contemporary art space April 2017 – an art exhibition “Live Life” in Moscow May 2017 – an art exhibition at the Embassy of Turkey in Azerbaijan May 2017 – an art exhibition Live Life organized in Geogria by Idea community June 2017 – Master Class given by Fidan Kim at Yarat Contemporary Art Centre Member of the Union of Artists May 2018 – solo exhibition in Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Beijing, China November 2018 – Participation in Shanghai art...
Category

2010s Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait of a Child
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original modern abstract portrait of a child by American artist Will Barnet. The work has a letter of provenance from the artist's wife. The i...
Category

1930s Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood

Portrait. Cardboard, oil, 47x45 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Portrait. Cardboard, oil, 47x45 cm Laimdots Murnieks has said: "I am a sunny artist. The sun and a woman are the center of the world. It is not for nothing that the sun always comes...
Category

1970s Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Actress Oil on cardboard, 48x33.5 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Actress Oil on cardboard, 48x33,5 cm Laimdots Murnieks has said: "I am a sunny artist. The sun and a woman are the center of the world. It is not for nothing that the sun always c...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Swedish Figurative Framed Oil Painting - The Priests
Located in Bristol, GB
THE PRIESTS Size: 60 x 48 cm (including frame) Oil on canvas A brilliantly painted mid century figurative portrait of 2 priests, exec...
Category

1950s Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sounds in colors. 2023., canvas, oil, 90x70 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Sounds in colors. 2023., canvas, oil, 90x70 cm
Category

2010s Modern Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Modern portrait paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Modern portrait 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 portrait 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, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Kevin Foote, Alkis Matheos, Robert Chapman, and Albert Decaris. 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 portrait paintings, so small editions measuring 2 inches across are also available. Prices for portrait 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 $800,000, while the average work sells for $2,250.

Recently Viewed

View All