Richard Rackus
Late 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
People Also Browsed
18th Century Old Masters Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Indian Moorish Wall Mirrors
Wood, Mirror, Mother-of-Pearl
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Paintings and Screens
Gold Leaf
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass, Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Asian Ceramics
Ceramic
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Side Tables
Hardwood
1940s Landscape Paintings
Oil, Board, Canvas
Antique 19th Century Tibetan Paintings and Screens
Canvas, Glass, Wood
Antique Early 1900s Classical Greek Urns
Iron
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Vases
Ceramic
Antique 1850s French Aubusson Tapestries
Wool, Silk
Vintage 1950s French Aubusson Tapestries
Wool
Antique 19th Century English Neoclassical Revival Planters and Jardinieres
Concrete
Antique 16th Century Spanish Tapestries
Textile
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative 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.