Figurative Paintings
Late 17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Permanent Marker
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Permanent Marker
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Permanent Marker
15th Century and Earlier Old Masters Figurative Paintings
Tempera, Panel
1880s Victorian Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Oil
Late 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Tempera
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
1980s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Acrylic, Paper
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 2000s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1930s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paint, Canvas
20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings
Graphite, Casein, Acrylic, Masonite
1950s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Board
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1940s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Oil
1930s Figurative Paintings
Woodcut
1930s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Board, Watercolor
20th Century Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1940s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Pigment
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
Early 19th Century Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil, Stretcher Bars
1990s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
1990s Abstract Geometric Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Paint, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper, 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.