An Island

Laurence Stephen Lowry 1887 - 1976

Summary

View of a deserted mill against a backdrop of industrial wasteland and flooded surrounding planes, hence the title of the work - 'An Island'. The mill is positioned centrally within the painting with rows of terraced housing receed in the background to the left and right. Symbols of industry recur in Lowry's work such as smoking chimneys, telegraph poles and smoggy skyscape scenes. Areas in the foreground are derelict such as the broken fences lining the bottom of the work.

Display Label

An Island 1942 Laurence Stephen Lowry (1887-1976) Oil on canvas Isolated houses made almost anthropomorphic with windows as eyes appear frequently in Lowry’s work. This painting was made three years after the death of his mother and during a period of isolation for the artist. Lowry wrote of the painting: ‘An Island is an old house, long uninhabited, falling further and further into decay…I seem to have a strong leaning towards decayed houses in deteriorated areas…’ Purchased 1948.268