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.

  • Portrait of Miss Scott, daughter of the Late Thomas Alexander Scott of Philadelphia (1883)

    Portrait of Miss Scott, daughter of the Late Thomas Alexander Scott of Philadelphia (1883)

    Sir John Everett Millais (English, 1829–1896)

    A young woman in black gazes past the viewer, her gloved hands resting lightly on a chair. The rich velvet and lace of her mourning dress contrast with her pale, composed face—a quiet strength beneath the grief. Philadelphia society whispers about the Scott family, but her expression reveals nothing.

  • The Knitting Lesson (1869)

    The Knitting Lesson (1869)

    Jean-François Millet (French, 1814–1875)

    A woman’s hands move steadily, yarn looping over needles. A child watches, silent, learning the rhythm of thread and patience. The firelight flickers on their faces—no words, just the quiet transfer of skill from one generation to the next.

  • Portrait of Susan Mitchell (1866-1926), Poet (1899)

    Portrait of Susan Mitchell (1866-1926), Poet (1899)

    John Butler Yeats (Irish, unknown)

    Susan Mitchell’s gaze holds steady, her expression poised between thought and speech. The brushstrokes suggest a mind alive with words, a poet caught in the quiet before creation. There’s weight in her stillness—an unspoken verse hovering just beyond the frame.

  • Simplon – Mrs Barnard and her Daughter Dorothy (1905-1915)

    Simplon – Mrs Barnard and her Daughter Dorothy (1905-1915)

    John Singer Sargent (American, 1856-1925)

    A mother and daughter stand in quiet intimacy, their figures softly blurred yet alive with movement. The child leans slightly into her mother’s side, a fleeting gesture of trust. Light dances across their dresses, dissolving detail into warmth—a moment suspended between stillness and motion.

  • Goosie, Goosie Gander (1880s)

    Goosie, Goosie Gander (1880s)

    Francis Donkin Bedford (English, 1864–1954)

    A child in a nightgown tiptoes past a looming goose, eyes wide with mischief and fear. The nursery rhyme springs to life—whispers of “Goosie, Goosie Gander” hang in the air. Shadows stretch long; feathers ruffle. One wrong step, and the game begins.

  • Innocence  (1873)

    Innocence (1873)

    William Bouguereau (French, 1825–1905)

    A barefoot child sits with folded hands, eyes cast downward. White fabric drapes over small shoulders, sunlight catching the folds. A single feather rests near her feet—soft, weightless, out of place. The air feels still, as if holding its breath.

  • Isabella of Bourbon. First Queen of King Philip IV (1613 – 1660)

    Isabella of Bourbon. First Queen of King Philip IV (1613 – 1660)

    Diego Velázquez (Spanish, 1599–1660)

    The stiff brocade of her gown barely moves as she turns, pearls glinting against black silk. A queen’s gaze meets yours—direct, unflinching—before the heavy curtains of the Spanish court close again.

  • Portrait Of An Elegant Lady

    Portrait Of An Elegant Lady

    Konstantin Egorovich Makovsky (Russian, 1839–1915)

    A woman gazes past the viewer, her dark eyes holding quiet confidence. The rich folds of her dress catch the light, framing her poised silhouette against a muted background. There’s an unspoken story in her slight smile and the delicate tilt of her head—grace with a hint of mystery.

  • Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat (1887)

    Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat (1887)

    Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, 1853–1890)

    A man in a straw hat stares back, his face rough with brushstrokes. The hat’s brim casts a shadow, but his eyes pierce through—intense, restless. The background swirls with muted greens and blues, as if the air itself trembles around him. There’s no peace here, only a quiet, coiled energy.