Benjamin G. Vaganov On Sale
1950s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Linen, Egg Tempera, Cardboard
Recent Sales
20th Century American Modern Figurative Paintings
Masonite, Oil
People Also Browsed
2010s American Flush Mount
Brass
1910s Art Deco Figurative Paintings
Gouache, Archival Paper, Pencil
1960s Post-War Abstract Paintings
Masonite, Oil
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Alabaster, Metal
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Decorative Boxes
Ormolu
Early 20th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Oil, Panel
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Cigar Boxes and Humidors
Malachite, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Scandinavian Gustavian Commodes and Chests of ...
Brass
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Mexican Natural Specimens
Other
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Swiss Natural Specimens
Other
Antique 1780s English George III Console Tables
Mahogany, Purpleheart, Satinwood
Early 2000s North American Modern Paintings
Canvas, Resin, Acrylic
2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Modern Contemporary Art
Finding the Right Figurative-paintings for You
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.