Figuratifs

Figuratifs refers to artworks that depict recognizable forms—people, places, objects—in contrast to non-representational or abstract art. The term is widely used in French-language art criticism to describe figurative art (art figuratif) and, by extension, to works in painting, sculpture, drawing, and printmaking that maintain identifiable subject matter. Figuratifs can range from precise realist rendering to expressive or stylized representation. They may incorporate symbolism, narrative content, or social commentary, while still preserving readable imagery.

Historically, figuration has been a persistent thread in Western art alongside abstraction. In the 20th century, critics sometimes contrasted figuration with formalist abstraction, but many artists bridged the gap, combining figurative subjects with innovative handling of color, line, and composition. In contemporary contexts, figuration remains diverse, including hyperrealist, lyrical, and politically engaged approaches, united by a shared emphasis on recognizable subject matter.

Etymology: figuration from Latin figura; the French term figuratif denotes the same meaning, and figuratifs is the plural noun used to describe works or artists in this tradition. In English-language discourse, figurative art or figurative painting is the closest equivalent.

See also: figurative art, realism, expressionism, contemporary painting.