The Emperor at the Bathers’ Pool
- Artist: Robert Colescott
- Date: 1985
- Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
- Dimensions: support: 2134 × 1830 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “The Emperor at the Bathers’ Pool” by Robert Colescott, created in 1985 with acrylic on canvas. The work measures over two metres wide and a little under two metres tall, making it a commanding presence in the space. Colescott, a celebrated mid‑century artist, was known for his bold use of color and for tackling themes of identity and power. In this painting he places an emperor beside a pool of bathers, a striking juxtaposition that invites viewers to consider the tension between authority and leisure. The scene is rendered in energetic brushwork, with a palette that balances vibrant hues against subtle shadows. The piece was brought in on a long‑term loan from the Tate Americas Foundation courtesy of the Endowment Fund, 2024.
See it in person
The Emperor at the Bathers’ Pool is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
