The Old Steps Stockport
The Old Steps Stockport
Signed Print
L S Lowry
Price data unavailable
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
There aren't enough data points on this work for a comprehensive result. Please speak to a specialist by making an enquiry.
Medium: Lithograph
Edition size: 75
Year: 1969
Size: H 61cm x W 49cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
TradingFloor
Track this artwork in realtime
Watch artwork, manage valuations, track your portfolio and return against your collection
Track auction value trend
Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2017 | Bonhams Knightsbridge | United Kingdom | |||
| November 2008 | Christie's London | United Kingdom |
Meaning & Analysis
The Old Steps Stockport is a drawing from 1969 that shows a street corner from the bottom of a set of steps, with a lamppost and impressions of figures at the top of the steps. As with many of Lowry’s drawings this print is depicted exclusively in black and white and in an abstracted, simplified style.
Initially trained under the Impressionist master, Adolphe Valette, Lowry was interested in recording the nuances of everyday life and would sketch during the day to record his observations of the world around him. During his prolific career, the artist produced over 8,000 drawings. As a rent collector, Lowry travelled through many towns in and around Greater Manchester and his drawings like The Old Steps Stockport are a reflection of this.
Lowry’s lithographs like The Old Steps Stockport are produced by hand whereby a plate is etched and inked, and the paper is then pressed onto the plate to produce an original. Due to this printing process, no two prints are exactly the same. Editions like these are therefore relatively small, in this case 75, and as a result they are rare and highly sought after items.
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.
