Michael Ritter Cannon
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Oil
People Also Browsed
Artist Comments
Artist Morgan Fite offers an abstract depiction of how she visualizes the cycle of life. "Inspired by that 'life—death—life' cycle that we all go through, t...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Paintings
Oil
2010s American Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A woman emerges from abstract strokes of colors in this modern contemporary portrait by artist Gary Leonard. Light falls on her delicate figure as she poses wit...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century American Modern Paintings
Paint
Artist Comments
“Moody clouds appear in shades of blue and gray over dark waters,†describes artist Nancy Hughes Miller. “I find inspiration walking the beach, letting ...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Landscape Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A glowing depiction of a cold winter evening by artist Claudia Verciani. Figures stroll down a snow-covered sidewalk illuminated by inviting restaurant lights. ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Interior Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Morgan Fite utilizes palette knives to create subtle, feathery layers in this abstract piece. "I was inspired by the olive tree, an unexpected evergreen ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Panel
2010s Abstract Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Gary Leonard offers an exciting blend of expressionist abstraction coming together in one figurative painting. A woman appears in bold hues of yellow, li...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Nude Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Paintings
Oil
20th Century Romantic Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil
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.