Figurative Paintings
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
18th Century Figurative Paintings
Fabric, Silk
Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
1940s Hudson River School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Illustration Board, Stretcher Bars
1910s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Dutch School Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
1950s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Gouache, Lithograph
1960s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
1950s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
20th Century French School Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1940s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil Crayon
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Linen, Ink, Mixed Media
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Charcoal, Mixed Media
Mid-17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1880s English School Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Late 17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil, Archival Paper
Mid-18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Gold Leaf
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
1960s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Late 20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil, Vellum
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
2010s Contemporary 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.