Figurative Paintings
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Late 20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Crayon, Wax Crayon, Pen, Color Pencil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Charcoal, Gouache
2010s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Board
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Gouache
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Linen, Ink, Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
1980s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Wood, Oil
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Ink, Mixed Media, Oil
1980s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Illustration Board, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Clay, Acrylic
1940s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1950s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1920s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Illustration Board
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Clay, Acrylic
1980s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic, Handmade Paper
1960s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Gesso, Charcoal
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Panel
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Fabric, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1940s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil, Stretcher Bars
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic, Canvas
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.