Stephen Mopope
1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Gouache
People Also Browsed
20th Century Canadian Native American Native American Objects
Fur, Leather, Beads
20th Century Canadian Native American Native American Objects
Fur, Leather, Beads
Mid-20th Century American Modern Landscape Photography
Silver Gelatin
1990s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
1990s Abstract Abstract Prints
Lithograph
Late 20th Century Native American Native American Objects
Copper
Vintage 1980s North American Native American Native American Objects
Clay, Leather
Antique 19th Century American Native American Toys
Leather, Beads
Early 20th Century American Native American Native American Objects
Animal Skin, Beads
Vintage 1940s American Native American Native American Objects
Other
Vintage 1930s American Native American Toys and Dolls
Plastic
Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects
Hide, Glass, Beads
1970s Contemporary Figurative Prints
Lithograph
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
1950s American Impressionist Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Impressionist Animal Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
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.