$22,000
Muscular Gay Men Mardi Gras - Daring Interracial Love Mid-Century - Gay Interest
Located in Miami, FL
The present mid-century work features two taboos in one painting. In 1949, it was verboten to glamorize gay life and even more prohibited to show interracial love. This work by Dan A...
Masonite
Groovy 1970s Men's Fashion - Gay Interest - like Domenico Gnoli
By Wilson McLean
Located in Miami, FL
Illustration Star Wilson McLean executes a 1970s male fashion assignment that is situated at the intersection of realism and abstraction. Four male models are depicted with a tight ...
Canvas, Oil
Black Men Muscular Bodies - Gay Interest
Located in Miami, FL
Art Deco/Cubist rendition of two Black Men with Muscular Bodies in an artistically formal pose with shovels and pitchforks. The work is executed in an Art Deco/Cubist style. Titled ...
Watercolor, Gouache, Handmade Paper
$7,500
Three Young Men California WPA Figurative Modern Art Gay American Scene 1930s
By Boris Deutsch
Located in New York, NY
Three Young Men California WPA Figurative Modern Art Gay American Scene 1930s An artist on the WPA mural project, Deutsch was born in Lithuania and died in Los Angeles.
Canvas, Oil
"Men in Barracks" WPA Mid 20th Century American Scene Realism Gay Modernism WWII
By David Fredenthal
Located in New York, NY
"Men in Barracks" WPA Mid 20th Century American Scene Realism Gay Modernism WWII. 18 x 24 inches Watercolor on paper. c. 1940s.
Paper, Watercolor
$1,100
Without Heaviness - Close-Up Painting of Two Men Kissing, Original Oil on Panel
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
And Then Comes Wonder - Intimate Painting of a Couple Kissing
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
Glimpse of Something That Seemed All Potential - Nude Original Oil Painting
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
Occasionally There Would Be One - Intimate Painting of a Couple, Original Oil
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
Did I Steal You Away? - Intimate Painting of a Couple Embracing, Original Oil
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
A Quiet Line - Intimate Painting of Two Nude Torsos, Original Oil on Panel
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
$3,475
And Then On To You - Intimate Painting, Two Male Nudes Entangled in One Another
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
Handing Your Heart to the Heat - Nude Figures, Intimate Portrayal of a Couple
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
Do You Recall the Day? - Nude Figures, Intimate Portrayal of a Couple
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
His Body Like a River - Nude Figures, Intimate Portrayal of a Couple
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
Their Losses and Their Hopes - Nude Figures, Intimate Portrayal of a Couple
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
We Can Try Again - Nude Figures, Intimate Portrayal of a Couple
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
Their Whole Private Selves - Two Nude Bodies Entwined, Original Oil on Panel
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
I Might Grow to Be Kinder - Intimate Portrayal of a Couple Embracing
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
$3,250
Shield Me - Nude Figures, Intimate Portrayal of a Couple, Original Oil on Panel
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
No One Is Sure - Nude Figures, Intimate Portrayal of a Couple, Original Oil
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
Skin Had Hope - Two Nude Torsos, Entwined, Original Oil on Panel
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
Sold
H 23 in W 19.25 in D 1 in
'The Delivery Boys' Original Painting by Baltimore Artist Vernon Reynolds
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This is a youthful painting full of vitality by Baltimore artist Vernon Reynolds (American 20th century) who is a listed artist and known for his depictions of nightlife, cityscapes ...
Wood, Paint
Sold
H 8 in W 8 in D 0.5 in
Fear and Lust and Shame - Intimate Painting of a Couple Kissing, Original Oil
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
Focused on the experiences of gay men, this body of oil paintings depicts moments that range from tender touches to more sexually explicit acts.
Oil, Panel
Untitled (Standing Male Nude 1)
By James Childs
Located in New York, NY
This drawing by James Childs is offered by CLAMP in New York City.
Paper, Charcoal, Graphite
$7,800
H 11.6 in W 12.2 in D 3.9 in
Art Deco Bronze Sculpture of an Archer by Michel Decoux (1837-1924), France.
Located in New York, NY
Green patinated bronze sculpture of an archer by Michel Decoux (1837-1924). This petite Art Deco sculpture beautifully captures the elegant formal language of the period. Crafted in ...
Bronze
$2,500
H 41 in W 56 in D 0.1 in
Two male Nudes. Painting.Pastel, carbon pencil, ink on archival paper mounted
By Celso José Castro Daza
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Drawing on paper is his basic work tool, some are sketches of his surviving works, others are sketches of moments he documents. Undefined by medium, Celso Castro’s works each carry...
Carbon Pencil, Paper, Pastel, Ink
$600
H 27.5 in W 19.5 in
BOYS WILL BE BOYS original art Paula Craioveanu Male Nude in Florida
By Paula Craioveanu
Located in Forest Hills, NY
“Boys will be Boys”, male nude, tempera pencil charcoal on blue paper, 27.5x19.5in, 70x50cm. Shipped rolled in a tube, well packed, from Florida. . Choose between express or standa...
Ink, Tempera, Archival Paper
$6,003
H 37.41 in W 49.22 in D 1.19 in
HEAT - Contemporary Expressive, Figurative Oil Painting, Male Nude Series
By Bartosz Kolata
Located in Hallein, AT
This work is framed. Unframed size: 90x120 cm, framed 95x125 cm Bartosz Kolata was born in Torun, Poland in 1979. In 2006 he graduated in Art Conservation and Restoration from Nicol...
Canvas, Oil
Male Nude 19, Drawing, Pastels on Paper
By Bill Buchman
Located in Yardley, PA
Contemporary male nude done with artists quality charcoal chalks on acid free drawing paper. :: Drawing :: Contemporary :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authentic...
Pastel
$1,600
H 30 in W 14 in
Mark Beard 054 (Figurative Charcoal Drawing of Two Male Nudes on Arches Paper)
By Mark Beard
Located in Hudson, NY
Figurative drawing of two male nudes made with graphite, charcoal, and conte crayon on Arches paper 30 x 14 inches, unframed This unique life study drawing of two standing nude m...
Charcoal, Graphite, Paper
$235
H 24 in W 18 in D 0.13 in
A Fine 1940s, Modern Academic Figure Study Drawing, Standing Male Nude Model
By Harold Haydon
Located in Chicago, IL
A Fine, 1940s Mid-Cenrury Modern Academic Figure Study Drawing of a Standing Male Nude Model by Notable Chicago Artist, Harold Haydon (Am. 1909-1994). An exceptionally well executed...
Paper, Charcoal
$28,125Sale Price|25% Off
H 37 in W 46.75 in D 2 in
"Five Josephs, " Important Art Deco Painting w/ Male Nudes, Provincetown, 1930s
By William L'Engle
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An extraordinary example of Art Deco painting with allegorical meaning -- like so many murals painted in the 1920s and 1930s -- this large work by William L'Engle depicts five nude m...
Paint
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 7 in W 3.07 in D 0.1 in
"Nude with Golden Hair", Striking Male Nude by du Bois, Tony Award Winner
By Raoul Pene du Bois
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Diminutive and striking, this Mannerist male nude by Raoul Pène du Bois, the great Broadway designer, depicts a confident figure in the full bloom of youth, with golden hair and blus...
Paint
Portrait of Black Dancer (male nude)
By Roy Blakey
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Roy Blakey (1930-2024). Portrait of Black Dancer, ca. 1972. Mr. Dennis was immortalized in 1975 as the original Richie "Gimme The Ball" Walters in A Chorus Line, after making his B...
Photographic Paper
$7,500
H 23.75 in W 30 in D 1.5 in
"Nudes in the Surf", Atmospheric Painting with Male Nudes and Horses
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Continuing a tradition going back decades, Josef Pieper painted a series of seaside scenes with multiple nude male figures, riding and leading horses along the shore, their strong bo...
Paint
$14,750
H 58 in W 58 in D 1.5 in
'Young Man in Repose' by Podlach - Large Male Intimate Figurative Nude Painting
By Betsy Podlach
Located in Carmel, CA
Betsy Podlach (American, born 1964) "Young Man in Repose" 2009 Oil Paint, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the back of the painting. "Young Man in Repose" is a captivating p...
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
$1,150
H 10 in W 8 in
Untitled - After Cadmus - Nude Males Embracing, Original Graphite Drawing
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
This untitled work by Rick Sindt was inspired by the works of Paul Cadmus. It is a small graphite drawing of two male nude figures with both of their faces somewhat obscured during ...
Panel, Graphite
$1,600
H 30 in W 22 in
MB 076 A&B (Double Sided Figurative Charcoal Drawing of Male Nudes)
By Mark Beard
Located in Hudson, NY
Figurative drawing of male nudes made with graphite, charcoal, and conte crayon on Arches paper 30 x 22 inches, unframed One piece of 30 x 22 inch Arches. Two drawings, one on either...
Charcoal, Archival Paper, Graphite
$1,650
H 30 in W 21 in
MB 824 (Double-Sided Figure Drawing of Handsome Nude Men by Mark Beard)
By Mark Beard
Located in Hudson, NY
Figurative, academic style life drawing of male nude with charcoal and graphite by Mark Beard, "MB 824" graphite, Conte crayon and charcoal on Arches paper 30.5 x 21 inches unframed ...
Conté, Charcoal, Archival Paper, Graphite
Figurative art, as opposed to abstract art, retains features from the observable world in its representational depictions of subject matter. Most commonly, figurative paintings reference and explore the human body, but they can also include landscapes, architecture, plants and animals — all portrayed with realism.
While the oldest figurative art dates back tens of thousands of years to cave wall paintings, figurative works made from observation became especially prominent in the early Renaissance. Artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and other Renaissance masters created naturalistic representations of their subjects.
Pablo Picasso is lauded for laying the foundation for modern figurative art in the 1920s. Although abstracted, this work held a strong connection to representing people and other subjects. Other famous figurative artists include Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. Figurative art in the 20th century would span such diverse genres as Expressionism, Pop art and Surrealism.
Today, a number of figural artists — such as Sedrick Huckaby, Daisy Patton and Eileen Cooper — are making art that uses the human body as its subject.
Because figurative art represents subjects from the real world, natural colors are common in these paintings. A piece of figurative art can be an exciting starting point for setting a tone and creating a color palette in a room.
Browse an extensive collection of figurative paintings on 1stDibs.