Figurative art refers to artistic practices that retain a clear reference to the human figure or recognisable forms from the visible world. While representation has been central to art across centuries, the term gained renewed relevance in the 20th century as artists continued to depict the body and everyday subjects in dialogue with the rise of abstraction. Rather than adhering to strict realism, figurative art encompasses a wide range of approaches—from naturalistic representation to expressive distortion and stylisation. Artists such as Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, and Alice Neel demonstrated how the human figure could serve as a powerful vehicle for psychological intensity, social observation, and formal experimentation. In India, figurative practices have played an equally significant role in modern and contemporary art. Artists like F. N. Souza, M. F. Husain, and Tyeb Mehta reimagined the human figure through bold distortions, mythological references, and expressions of modern identity. Across contexts, figurative art continues to explore the body, narrative, and lived experience, maintaining a vital dialogue between representation and interpretation.

Read—Figuration: Painting the Human Figure edited by Robert Storr