The fictional picture of Dorian Gray is one of literature’s most famous artworks; Oscar Wilde, the writer of the book that it featured in, saw the picture as a piece of art that was temporal, aging and becoming ugly with time, while Dorian Gray himself remained youthful and timeless.

Figurative is said to be a bit magical, transformative, and perhaps even a little evil. It used to inspire and awe and fear, but the concept started to wither as focus shifted towards more conceptual work.

However, publications have asserted that the art form is making a comeback, and is more interesting than ever. Let’s look into some factors that make a figurative painting compelling:

Expansion of People Depicted

Figurative art has evolved greatly, giving artists and painters a way to create images of themselves to show how their lives have changed over time. Artists of color are using the form to demonstrate inclusiveness and cultural shifts.

The subjects these artists are quite disparate,  making figurative paintings all the more interesting. Some artists even recreate historical work in their own light and style!

Reference Traditions

Figurative art can be immensely diverse—other than recreating history, it can also depict entire artistic traditions.

Many artists encourage others to use unique materials and create unique dimensionality in their works. They can create whole new pieces using simple photography and sculptures as reference.

That’s the beauty of figurative work—artists can use several references and put them together on a single canvas in the most unique way. Besides, figurative work can be provoking too, especially if artists of color, women, or minorities, are behind the work.

Has a Surprising Element

While all art is timeless and speaks to the soul, figurative art instantly elicits a response. As many artists at Artd⁴ put it, it touches you on a different level. A good figurative painting will speak to you; it’ll make you feel something that and it’ll move you. While figurative paintings can be quite expressive, they never seem to communicate bluntly.

Looking for some amazing figurative art for your space? Take a look at our online art gallery. Here all our efforts are focused at 4 D’s— dream, design, decorate and deliver. With special emphasis on these aspects, we try to provide you the best possible experience. For more information, contact us today!