Framed limited edition
Medium: Offset lithograph on wove paper
A testament to Lowry’s iconic style, this piece masterfully captures the essence of life in an industrial town with its evocative simple portrayal of buildings and inhabitants. Whilst the background recedes through a muted palette of greys and gentle beige, the figures in the foreground advance towards us with their colourful coats. This contrast represents and reflects the juxtaposition between the coldness of industry and the warmth of human spirit.
Lowry’s approach imbues a sense of noise and movement within the scene as each figure pulsates with life within the bustling environment.
| Medium: | Lithograph |
| Format: | Paper |
| Size (Framed): | 11 x 9" |
| Signed: | Yes |
| Condition: | Excellent |
| Limited Edition: | Edition 821 of 850 |
Laurence Stephen Lowry ( LAO-ree; 1 November 1887 – 23 February 1976) was an English artist. His drawings and paintings mainly depict Pendlebury, Greater Manchester (where he lived and worked for more than 40 years) as well as Salford and its vicinity.
Lowry painted scenes of life in the industrial districts of North West England in the mid-20th century. He developed a distinctive style of painting and is best known for his urban landscapes peopled with human figures, often referred to as “matchstick men”. He painted mysterious unpopulated landscapes, brooding portraits and the unpublished “marionette” works, which were only found after his death. He was fascinated by the sea, and painted pure seascapes, depicting only sea and sky, from the early 1940s.
His use of stylised figures which cast no shadows, and lack of weather effects in many of his landscapes led critics to label him a naïve “Sunday painter”.
Lowry holds the record for rejecting British honours—five, including a knighthood (1968). A collection of his work is on display in The Lowry, a purpose-built art gallery on Salford Quays. On 26 June 2013, a major retrospective opened at the Tate Britain in London, his first at the gallery; in 2014 his first solo exhibition outside the UK was held in Nanjing, China.
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