Hu Yongkai
Mid-20th Century Post-Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache
People Also Browsed
1990s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Antique 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Lacquer
Lacquer
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Paper
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Models and Miniatures
Terracotta
Late 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Paint, Paper
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings
Paper
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Glass, Pine, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary American Paintings
Paper, Gouache
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Textiles
Fabric, Silk, Wood
Antique 19th Century Chinese Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
Antique Early 19th Century Chinese Paintings
Paper
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Paintings
Fabric, Paint
Antique 19th Century Paintings
Paper
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Paintings
Fabric, Paint
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Paintings
Fabric, Paint
Finding the Right figurative-paintings for You
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.