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.

  • Elizabeth Gunning, Duchess of Hamilton and Argyll (ca. 1760)

    Elizabeth Gunning, Duchess of Hamilton and Argyll (ca. 1760)

    Sir Joshua Reynolds (English, 1723–1792)

    The Duchess’s powdered hair frames her face like a cloud, her silk gown shimmering against the dark background. A slight smile plays at her lips—not quite coy, not quite warm—as if she’s decided the viewer may glimpse, but never truly know, the woman beneath the aristocratic trappings.

  • Une soirée au Pré-Catelan (1909)

    Une soirée au Pré-Catelan (1909)

    Henri Gervex (French, 1852–1929)

    Laughter floats through the lantern-lit garden as silk skirts brush against tailored suits. Glasses clink under the trees, their reflections shimmering in dark puddles from an earlier rain. Paris hums beyond the hedges, but here, time stretches like the shadows across damp gravel.

  • Battledore (1868-1870)

    Battledore (1868-1870)

    Albert Joseph Moore (English, 1841–1893)

    A woman in flowing drapery holds a battledore, poised mid-motion. The folds of her gown ripple with restrained energy, frozen between stillness and action. Victorian elegance meets classical grace, the shuttlecock suspended just beyond the frame—anticipation hangs in the air like an unplayed note.

  • A popular courtesan

    A popular courtesan

    Stéphane Baron (French, unknown)

    A woman lounges in silk, her gaze both inviting and distant. The folds of her dress catch the light, rich fabrics whispering luxury. There’s power in her ease—a courtesan who commands the room without lifting a finger. Every detail hums with unspoken stories.

  • Interior, Light Of Spring

    Interior, Light Of Spring

    Carl Holsøe (Danish, unknown)

    Sunlight spills across the wooden floor, pooling around a chair left slightly askew. A vase of fresh blooms sits on the table, their petals catching the glow. The room holds its breath, suspended in the quiet warmth of a spring morning. Shadows stretch lazily, marking time’s slow passage.

  • Un repas à deux

    Un repas à deux

    Victor Gabriel Gilbert (French, 1847–1935)

    Two figures sit at a table, bathed in warm lamplight. The quiet clink of cutlery, the hush of conversation—every detail pulls you into their shared moment. The scene feels intimate, ordinary, yet charged with something unspoken. You lean in, wondering what’s left unsaid between them.

  • Portrait Of An Italian Man

    Portrait Of An Italian Man

    Jean-Léon Gérôme (French, 1824–1904)

    A weathered face stares from the canvas, dark eyes holding quiet intensity. The man’s furrowed brow and strong jawline suggest years of hard labor, yet his tilted head carries an unexpected dignity. Wrinkles trace a life lived fully across his sun-worn skin.

  • A Blustery Day (c. 1860s)

    A Blustery Day (c. 1860s)

    Frederik Hendrik Kaemmerer (Dutch, 1839–1902)

    Skirts whip sideways, hats cling to heads—the wind snatches at everything. A couple leans into the gust, laughing as their coats billow like sails. Nearby, a dog scampers, ears flattened by the rush of air. The whole scene pulses with movement, as if the canvas itself might blow away.

  • Girl Reading

    Girl Reading

    Frederick Carl Frieseke (American, 1874–1939)

    A woman sits absorbed in her book, sunlight dappling the pages. The room hums with quiet warmth, her dress blending into the floral patterns around her. No urgency, just the slow turn of a page—a private world wrapped in soft light.