Signed and dated l.l.: Colquhoun/38 and with the artist's address label (reverse of original backboard) 

Watercolour over pencil, 32 by 42 cm

Provenance: the artist to Michael Parkin Gallery in 1977 from where acquired by John Hilton; thence by descent

Exhibited: The Leva Gallery,  Ithell Colquhoun - An Exhibition of Surrealist Paintings and Drawings (1930-1950), 1974; Michael Parkin Gallery, Ithell Colquhoun - Paintings and Drawings (1930-1940), November - December 1977, no.37

The present work is a rare example of Colquhoun's work from the later 1930s - a time when she was forging her own very personal response to British Surrealism. This drawing was acquired by the previous owner from a major commercial show of Colquhoun's work held at the Michael Parkin Gallery in 1977. In the same show was what is now arguably regarded as the artist's masterpiece Scylla which was acquired by the Tate later in the same year (ref.T02140). Both these works reflect Colquhoun's interest in the coast and coastal landscape in the later part of the decade.