Prince Twins Seven Seven
1980s Old Masters Mixed Media
Ink, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Wood
Recent Sales
1980s Tribal Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Pigment
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Armchairs
Bouclé
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Metal
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Fireplaces and Mantels
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
Mirror, Murano Glass
Antique 1890s Italian Hollywood Regency Wall Mirrors
Mirror, Wood, Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Sunburst Mirrors
Gold Leaf
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Sofas
Fabric, Ash
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sofas
Leather
Antique 1870s English Victorian Prints
Paper
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Metal, Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Wood
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Metal
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Metal
2010s Italian Other Side Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
2010s French Organic Modern Armchairs
Bronze
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.
Read More
The Real World Portraitist of “The Gilded Age,” Season Three
Only the best painter could suit the calculatedly extravagant Bertha Russell.
See Kent Monkman’s Magical Realist Take on Frontier History
With a solo show at the Denver Art Museum and a commission from the Met, the Cree Canadian painter has become an international sensation.
Yale’s Trove of British Art Is Back on View in a Refreshed Louis Kahn Building
After a two-year closure, they Yale Center for British Art opens its doors again, with all sorts of changes to its building and programming.
At 89, Artist Lucio Pozzi Is Reaching New Career Heights
The Italian-American’s 2020 abstract painting “The Hoe” personifies his “art of not knowing.”
The 1stDibs Guide to Types of Abstract Art
Get to know the key movements and artists who have influenced visual culture for more than a century.
With a Show at MoMA, Marlon Mullen Paints Pictures That Are beyond Words
The nonspeaking California artist is having a moment, with vivacious paintings that play on art-magazine covers as well as more mysterious abstractions.
The Vibrant Beauty of Orphist Art Supersedes Its Perplexing Name
This kaleidoscopic early-modern art style has long deserved another look. Now, the Guggenheim museum is doing just that.
The 50 Most Expensive Paintings Ever Sold
Curious about the most expensive paintings in the world? Discover the stories behind these masterpieces as well as the staggering prices they fetched.