Figurative Paintings
1880s Dutch School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A person walks down a rainy Manhattan street under a blue umbrella. Glowing storefronts line the sidewalk, adding warmth to the cool, wet surroundings. Inspired...
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Early 18th Century Rococo Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Outsider Art Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Late 19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1980s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Cotton, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Paper
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Board, Pastel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas, Cotton, Cotton Canvas, Board
Mid-18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1910s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
Late 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Panel, Cotton Canvas, Oil
1910s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Watercolor, Board
1940s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 20th Century Pre-Raphaelite Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
Late 19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
1990s French School Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Linen
1920s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Illustration Board
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Gesso, Canvas, Linen, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Cotton, Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil
1850s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Figurative Paintings for Sale
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.