The artwork, titled “Study for After Swimming,” is a creation by the artist Alex Colville from the year 1955. This piece belongs to the Magic Realism art movement and is classified under the genre of sketch and study.
In this artwork, two figures are depicted in swimsuits, conveying a moment immediately after swimming. The individuals are adorned in swimwear indicative of the mid-20th century, further evoking a sense of nostalgic realism. The artist employs a meticulous technique with delicate pencil strokes to capture the texture and form of the human body as well as the draped cloth. The scene is rendered with a restrained palette, imbuing the figures with a muted, almost ethereal quality. The subtle grid lines apparent in the background suggest that this piece is a preparatory study for a larger work, emphasizing the careful consideration that Alex Colville imparts into his compositional process.