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.

  • The Mandolin (1866)

    The Mandolin (1866)

    James Smetham (English, 1821–1889)

    A woman cradles a mandolin, fingers poised above the strings. The instrument’s curves mirror her own, wood grain glowing against dark fabric. Music hangs in the air before the first note sounds.

  • Light of the Harem (c. 1880)

    Light of the Harem (c. 1880)

    Frederic Leighton (English, 1830–1896)

    Golden light spills across the harem’s tiles, catching the folds of silk and idle limbs. A woman lounges near the window, half in shadow, half in warmth—her gaze distant, as if listening to something beyond the walls. The air hums with stillness, heavy with unspoken longing.

  • Ann old woman (1892)

    Ann old woman (1892)

    Evert Larock (Belgian, unknown)

    Wrinkles map a lifetime across her face, each crease holding stories untold. Her eyes, weary yet sharp, meet yours with quiet defiance. The plain shawl drapes her shoulders like armor. No grandeur, just the raw weight of years lived.

  • Ladies in the Shade Abriès (1912)

    Ladies in the Shade Abriès (1912)

    John Singer Sargent (American, 1856-1925)

    Two women rest in dappled sunlight, their white dresses glowing against the deep shadows. Loose brushstrokes suggest a breeze rustling through the trees overhead. The scene hums with quiet warmth—a fleeting afternoon pause.

  • A Female Figure In A Landscape

    A Female Figure In A Landscape

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

    A lone woman stands amid rolling hills, her flowing gown echoing the soft curves of the land. The scene holds a quiet tension—her distant gaze suggests a story untold, while the muted colors wrap the moment in hushed mystery.

  • American Motherhood (1922)

    American Motherhood (1922)

    Charles Webster Hawthorne (American, 1872–1930)

    A woman cradles her child, their faces bathed in soft light. The quiet strength in her gaze speaks of countless unspoken sacrifices. The child’s tiny hand rests against her shoulder—a fleeting moment of trust and tenderness, frozen in time.

  • Luise Eisner, spätere Fürstin Odescalchi (1926)

    Luise Eisner, spätere Fürstin Odescalchi (1926)

    John Quincy Adams (Austrian, 1873–1933)

    Luise Eisner gazes past the viewer, her poised elegance hinting at a world beyond the frame. The soft drape of her gown contrasts with the sharp intelligence in her eyes—a woman caught between who she was and the title she would inherit.

  • Béatrice (1897)

    Béatrice (1897)

    Odilon Redon (French, 1840–1916)

    A woman’s face emerges from the shadows, her gaze distant yet piercing. Soft hues blur into darkness, as if she’s caught between dream and waking. The portrait lingers—not quite real, not entirely imagined.

  • Oriental With Jewelry (1891)

    Oriental With Jewelry (1891)

    Paul De La Boulaye (French, 1874–1916)

    A woman adorned with intricate jewelry gazes into the distance, her draped garments rich with texture. The opulence of her ornaments contrasts with the quiet intensity in her eyes, hinting at untold stories behind the Orientalist allure.