Figures Before Railings
Figures Before Railings
Signed Print
L S Lowry
£600-£950Value Indicator
$1,250-$2,000 Value Indicator
$1,100-$1,750 Value Indicator
¥6,000-¥9,500 Value Indicator
€700-€1,100 Value Indicator
$6,000-$10,000 Value Indicator
¥110,000-¥180,000 Value Indicator
$800-$1,250 Value Indicator
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
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Medium: Lithograph
Edition size: 850
Size: H 44cm x W 62cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
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Meaning & Analysis
Figures Before Railings is a signed lithograph in colour made by L.S Lowry, one of the most iconic British painters of the 20th century. In this print, Lowry depicts an everyday scene, showing various anonymous people walking about outdoors. The print reflects Lowry’s desire to capture urban life in the north west of England. The artist was born in Stretford, Lancashire, however moved to Pendlebury near Manchester, a city where he drew much artistic inspiration.
The colours Lowry uses in this print are dark and muted, with grey, blue and brown dominating the composition. Lowry is known for working with a restricted colour palette, privileging five colours- white, ivory black, vermilion, Prussian blue and yellow ochre for his landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes and portraits. The lack of colour is meant to reflect the monotony and seriality of urban life.
The figures that Lowry depicts in the print are all very similar and lack distinguishing features. This has become a trademark of Lowry’s visual style. Termed ‘matchstick men’ the indistinct figures have been criticised for their lack of individualism, however this is intentional, as Lowry creates generalised cityscapes, also known as a ‘Lowryscape’ with a pre-determined iconography, which the artist uses to capture elements of the industrial north.
Born in 1887, L. S. Lowry was a key figure in 20th century British painting. Known for his distinctive painterly style and 'matchstick men', Lowry aimed to put industry on the map by typically focusing on scenes from his hometown in the North West of England. The naivety of his art drew criticism, yet has stood the test of time with the artist becoming a household name. Lowry has consistently performed in the secondary market, with works such as Going To The Match achieving a value of £2,919,000 in 2021 and the editioned prints remaining highly sought after.
