Family and Rainstorm 1955

Alex Colville's 1955 painting, "Family and Rainstorm", portrays a family standing in front of their car by the sea. The somber atmosphere is created through the use of muted colors and the depiction of a gathering storm, with dark clouds filling the sky. A sense of unease is generated as the family seems to be anticipating the rain, with one child already entering the car, while the other stands still, and the mother, holding a jacket, appears to be leaving. The stillness of the figures, contrasting with the looming storm, adds to the enigmatic quality of the piece, leaving viewers to ponder the family's unspoken anxieties and the impending storm.