Les Girls

James Fitton 1899 - 1982

Summary

A caricature group of three wizened old ladies gossiping in a cafe, all wearing fancy hats, coats and scarves, seated round a table with cups of tea. The woman on the far left leans towards the other two looking back at her, a teaspoon raised in her right hand above her teacup. The woman on the far right is rubbing her hands together, leaning on the table. There is a menu on the table in front of them. The woman in the centre has a bright purple coat and yellow scarf.

Display Label

Les Girls about 1950 James Fitton 1899-1982 Oil on canvas Fitton was apprenticed at the age of 14 to a calico print designer in Manchester. He attended evening classes at the School of Art where he met and became friends with LS Lowry. Although he moved to London in 1921, Oldham-born Fitton never forgot his northern roots which are reflected in this work. These three old women hatching plots are reminiscent of Ena Sharples and her two friends in the early days of TV soap Coronation Street. Fitton offsets the ordinariness of their activity with theatrical exaggeration and glee. Purchased 1953.23