Figurative Paintings
1940s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Ink, Mixed Media, Watercolor, Archival Paper
Mid-19th Century Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Archival Paper
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Post-Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Permanent Marker
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Board
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
1960s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Post-Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic, Permanent Marker
1940s Flemish School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1780s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 19th Century Pre-Raphaelite Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1740s Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A family enjoys a cheerful picnic, radiating warmth, happiness, and connection. Vibrant hues, especially golden sunlight, and a bright blue sky, enhance the s...
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Oil
1960s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil, Panel
1860s Hudson River School Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-19th Century English School Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-18th Century Italian School Figurative Paintings
Laid Paper, Ink, Watercolor
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Pencil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Early 1900s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1920s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Laid Paper
18th Century French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1950s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1920s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 20th Century Tonalist Figurative Paintings
Gesso, Oil, Stretcher Bars, Canvas, Linen
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Illustration Board
1910s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Gesso, Oil, Wood Panel, Stretcher Bars
1650s Italian School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Panel
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
19th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil
18th Century Renaissance Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Epoxy Resin, Acrylic, Panel
1990s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
1870s Italian School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
Mid-19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
1860s Realist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Linen
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Cubist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil, Panel
Late 19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
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.