9 Most Popular Paintings Sold on eBay

If you’re keen on buying and selling paintings online through eBay, you should take a look at the data we gathered on the 9 most popular paintings sold on eBay.

Art is a form of expression that helps people connect with a deeper meaning of their existence. It intrigues all of us, and though you might be more interested in music or literature than you are paintings, they’re still considered a form of high art. The internet has made it possible for art lovers to connect through online galleries, auction, or individual artist websites all over the world. If you’re an artist, you can easily sell your work online. The most popular marketplace for this is eBay.

Paintings are a great medium to reflect on your inner space and inspire a sense of calmness to connect with your values and break language or cultural barriers. Alternatively, it can work as a great decoration for your home. eBay has over a quarter of a million paintings listed in their art category, so if you’re interested in some that might be a great place to look first.

Artists use many different mediums to paint. Some use oil or acrylic paints, while others work with watercolor or gouache. No matter the medium, the aesthetic beauty is largely due to the skill of an artist and his or her imagination.

Buying and selling on eBay is not difficult, but you must be aware of its pitfalls. With more than 165 million users worldwide, there are bound to be unhappy ones. The Telegraph, a UK-based newspaper, sums up the grievances faced by eBay users as buyers “being sold stolen goods, or goods arriving not as described” and sellers “complain about eBay’s protection schemes not working in their favor.” It’s important that you’re cautious in your dealings on eBay.

eBay has more than 250,000 paintings listed in their art category right now. It’s sold approximately 150,000 paintings worldwide. To compile this list, we looked at the number of paintings that had already been sold worldwide through eBay to find out what kind of paintings people tend to buy more, and chose the top nine subjects that appeal to most people. The ranking is based on the number of items sold rather than the dollar amount of the transactions. eBay has a filter that allows you to see the activity in each category, and anyone can see what gets sold and what doesn’t. This is great for sellers to view analytics.

If you’re more of an Etsy lover, take a look at the 10 Most Popular Paintings on Etsy. In the meantime, find out what most people love on another marketplace on our list of 9 most popular paintings sold on eBay:

9. Nudes

Sales: 3%

While some may be disturbed by nude paintings in their home and would be reluctant to purchase them, others view them as representative of freedom and sensuality. The number of nude paintings sold on eBay is relatively low in comparison to other subjects, though.

8. Still Life

Sales: 4%

Still life paintings typically depict commonplace objects which are either natural or manmade. They represent about 4 percent of the total paintings sold on eBay. People are rather fond of owning these as they’re neutral.

7. Architecture & Cityscape

Sales: 5%

Architecture is an independent genre in paintings. Cityscape shows the physical aspects of a city or urban area. Famous buildings, locations, towers, monuments, cathedrals, mosques, temples, and halls carry a cultural and historical importance and are an epitome of human labor and creativity. They look great hung on a wall, which is why they rank number seven on our list of most popular paintings sold on eBay.

6. Seascape

Sales: 5%

Seascape painting is the view of the sea itself through an artist’s eye and imagination. It can bring a sense of serenity and also act as a metaphor for the huge storm and destruction that may follow. The vastness of the ocean makes us feel how small we are in comparison. Most people, however, feel quite calm when looking at an ocean, which is likely why they buy these paintings for their homes.

5. Floral & Gardens

Sales: 5%

At number 5 on our list of most popular paintings sold on eBay we have flowers that are aesthetically pleasing, and because there are so many types there’s a lot of variety in this category. Artists frequently use flowers and gardens to create a pleasing and balanced composition on the canvas. Greenery is soothing and brings us closer to nature.

4. Animals

Sales: 6%

I can’t think of a single person who doesn’t love to look at an animal, which is probably why this is one of the most popular subjects. People also love to commission custom paintings of their pets, which means this is a largely popular category outside of eBay as well.

3. Figures & Portraits

Sales: 13%

These types of paintings depict a human subject. Human figure is the primary subject of art in general, specifically paintings. Portraits serve as important state and family records, and they look great in an office. Let’s see which are the top two most popular paintings sold on eBay.

2. Abstract

Sales: 19%

Abstract art is such a wide range and it’s all about exploring form and color. It encompasses ideas, feelings, and thought all while not depicting an exact subject. It’s symbolic and independent of visual perception around us. Since they break the barrier of realities and often showcase an aesthetic rather than a subject, they’re one of the most sought out paintings on this list.

1. Landscape

Sales: 28%

Landscape paintings depict natural scenery like mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests. They often give viewers a sense of tranquility. It should come as no surprise that this is number one on the list, because I know for me I see a lot of these in people’s houses.

This concludes our list of the 9 most popular paintings sold on eBay. Did anything you own make the list?