“Woman with Revolver,” created by Alex Colville in 1987, is an exemplary piece of Contemporary Realism. The artwork falls within the genre of nude painting (nu).
The artwork depicts a nude woman positioned in a domestic interior space, specifically standing by a staircase. The woman, painted with meticulous detail and realism, is captured in a side profile, holding a revolver in her right hand. The precise brushwork and the nuanced play of light and shadow create a tense, introspective atmosphere, typical of Colville’s style. The setting and the subject’s pose suggest a narrative that invites contemplation and evokes a sense of mystery and unease.