Woman in Bathtub, 1973

Of the many scenes Colville depicted using himself and his wife, Rhoda, as models, Woman in Bathtub stands out as one that explores the darker and more disquieting side of male/female relationships. Although the woman is in a vulnerable position, and the man is in one of authority, the sense of menace comes from our reading of the painting, not the image itself. Colville presents a moment when a few facts, innocent enough on the surface, can induce an ill-defined sense of fear.