Ragheb Ayad
20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Paper, Pastel
20th Century Post-War Animal Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Ink
20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor, Pencil
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Late 20th Century American Statues
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Ceramics
Ceramic
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Antiquities
Stone
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Antiquities
Stone
Antique Late 19th Century Egyptian Islamic Metalwork
Brass, Copper
Vintage 1980s English Abstract Sculptures
Leather
Late 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
Aluminum
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Paintings
Paint
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Antiquities
Stone
20th Century European Other Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Tribal Art
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Vintage 1920s German Figurative Sculptures
Porcelain
Vintage 1960s Mexican Post-Modern Paintings
Masonite
Vintage 1940s French Figurative Sculptures
Marble
Vintage 1980s Mexican Modern Paintings
Acrylic, Masonite
Recent Sales
20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink, Color Pencil
20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Pastel, Paper
20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
20th Century Post-War Nude Paintings
Watercolor, Ink, Paper
20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Paper, Color Pencil
20th Century Post-War Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink, Color Pencil
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.