Figurative

Explore Figurative Art: Masterful portrayals of the human form, emotion, and identity. Discover classical and contemporary works that challenge realism and reflect the human experience. Download high-resolution images for study and inspiration.

  • Le petit chaperon rouge (1904)

    Le petit chaperon rouge (1904)

    A. Guillon (French, unknown)

    A girl in a red cloak pauses mid-step, the forest shadows stretching long around her. The basket on her arm holds more than bread—it carries the weight of every warning whispered at the hearth. Between the trees, something watches.

  • Portrait of a Woman (1886)

    Portrait of a Woman (1886)

    Marie Wandscheer (Dutch, 1856–1936)

    A woman gazes past the frame, her expression unreadable. The light catches the folds of her dark dress, the subtle textures of fabric and skin rendered with quiet precision. There’s weight in her stillness—not posed, but paused, as if mid-thought. The background dissolves, leaving only her presence.

  • Over The Wall (1865)

    Over The Wall (1865)

    Filippo Palizzi (Italian, 1818–1899)

    A boy perches atop a weathered stone wall, legs dangling over the edge. Below, the world stretches out—unknown, inviting. His hands grip the rough surface, torn between safety and the urge to leap. The wall divides more than land; it’s the line between childhood and whatever comes next.

  • La Toilette

    La Toilette

    Henri Gervex (French, 1852–1929)

    A woman adjusts her hair before a mirror, bathed in soft light. The reflection blurs the line between observer and observed. Lingerie drapes over a chair, hinting at intimacy interrupted. The scene feels both private and staged—a fleeting moment caught between preparation and performance.

  • Les modes féminines du XIXe siècle – Frontispiece (1902)

    Les modes féminines du XIXe siècle – Frontispiece (1902)

    Henri Boutet (French, 1851–1919)

    Elegant gowns swirl in delicate ink lines, each fold whispering of 19th-century femininity. A parade of silhouettes—corseted waists, cascading skirts—etched with precision, revealing how fabric shaped identity. The page hums with unspoken rules of beauty, a visual archive of society’s ever-shifting ideals.

  • Ophelia (1870)

    Ophelia (1870)

    Pierre-Auguste Cot (French, 1837–1883)

    A young woman floats among scattered flowers, her gown billowing in the water’s embrace. Pale petals cling to damp fabric as the current carries her—not struggling, but surrendered. The scene holds both beauty and sorrow, like a lullaby sung to someone already gone.

  • Lady Reading A Book (1876)

    Lady Reading A Book (1876)

    Attilio Baccani (Italian, unknown)

    A woman sits absorbed in her book, the pages catching soft light. Her posture leans slightly forward, fingers resting on the text. The quiet intensity of her focus fills the space around her—no distractions, just the slow turn of a page.

  • On the Dunes (Lady Shannon and Kitty) (ca. 1900-1910)

    On the Dunes (Lady Shannon and Kitty) (ca. 1900-1910)

    James Jebusa Shannon (American, 1862–1923)

    Two women stand on windswept dunes, their long skirts brushing the sand. One gazes toward the horizon while the other looks down, lost in thought. The sea breeze tangles their hair as sunlight washes over them, casting soft shadows across the sloping beach. A quiet moment, suspended between land and sky.

  • Portrait of Georgiana Burne-Jones

    Portrait of Georgiana Burne-Jones

    Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (English, 1833–1898)

    Georgiana’s gaze holds a quiet intensity, her pale face framed by dark hair. The delicate lace at her throat contrasts with the rich folds of her dress, each brushstroke suggesting both strength and vulnerability. There’s an unspoken story in her stillness, a life beyond the canvas.