Figurative Paintings
Early 2000s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Gouache, Color Pencil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1990s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
19th Century Victorian Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 19th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Romantic Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Gouache, Pencil, Graphite
1950s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Oil
Late 17th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Metal
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Panel, Oil
19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Street Art Figurative Paintings
Enamel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Ceramic, Porcelain, Paint
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Lithograph
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Pastel, Paper
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Conceptual Figurative Paintings
Oil
1930s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Casein, Canvas
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Cotton, Paper, Ink
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1960s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Symbolist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1930s Figurative Paintings
Gouache
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Silver, Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Aquatint
Early 1900s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
Mid-19th Century Romantic Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 17th Century Academic Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Cubist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Oil, Acrylic
Early 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
15th Century and Earlier Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Panel
2010s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Bamboo Paper
Early 2000s Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Early 2000s Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Early 2000s Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Figurative Paintings
Ink, Gouache, Pen
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.