Colville's Unsettling Genius

Explore the power of Alex Colville’s paintings.

Written by Nelle Oosterom

 — Posted July 15, 2015

His paintings have the power to move — and to unsettle — viewers. Alex Colville’s rich art legacy was the subject of a major exhibit at the National Gallery of Canada. The Ottawa exhibit, a collaboration between Art Gallery of Ontario and the National Gallery, opened in April 2015 and ran until September 7, 2015. It featured more than 250 paintings and sketches by Colville, a Second World War artist who went on to become of one Canada’s most celebrated painters. Colville, who painted in the realism style, died in 2013.

  • Single building white church in the background with a black horse running towards the viewer.
    Church and Horse, 1964.
    National Gallery of Canada
  • Horse running away from the viewer on train tracks towards a train that is in the distance.
    Horse and Train, 1954.
    National Gallery of Canada
  • Man sitting in chair on left, women sitting behind a piano on right, dog curled on floor between them
    Living Room, 1999-2000.
    National Gallery of Canada
  • Man sits with elbows on table, hand in front of chin, pistol sits on table.
    Target Pistol and Man, 1980.
    National Gallery of Canada
  • A soldier and a women embrace beside train tracks.
    Soldier and Girl at Station, 1953.
    National Gallery of Canada
  • A women sits on a boat looking toward the viewer through a pair of binoculars.
    To Prince Edward Island, 1965.
    National Gallery of Canada
You could win a free book!

Sign up for any of our newsletters and be eligible to win one of many book prizes available.

Sign up now!

Themes associated with this article

Related to Arts, Culture & Society

For the Record: Early Canadian Travel Photography

The National Gallery of Canada is showcasing early nineteenth century Canadian travel photos from the Library and Archives Canada collection.

Photo gallery

Kamloops Meets Karloff

William Pratt wasn’t getting much work as an actor. He decided to change his name. “Boris Karloff” sounded much more exotic.

Article

The Mysterious Death of Peter Verigin

In 1924, a charismatic Doukhobor leader died in a spectacular railway explosion. His death remains unsolved.

Article

The Mystery of Mr. McIntosh's Apple

In the spring of 1811 John McIntosh was out in the woods of southeastern Ontario, clearing land where the village of Dundela would soon appear. Little did he know that he was about to take his place in history.

Article