Critical Review
Considered to be one of Lowry’s more unusual prints, Figures In The Park is a lithograph from 1976 by L. S. Lowry that shows a variety of figures against a white background that reveals no situational context. This print is based on one of Lowry’s personal favourite paintings that took over two years to complete and is said to be of characters that were well known to him who used to wander the Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester.
From the artist’s own account, the characters in this painting were varied and dynamic; a disabled man and the lonely but smiling boy who were always hanging around the gardens when Lowry visited, and the eccentric University lecturer in the foreground. Figures In The Park is a print that is indicative of Lowry’s fascination with people and their unique qualities or quirks, prompting the viewer to look at his more widely known paintings differently.
Lowry said of the original painting, “This painting took me two years, I just couldn't get it right. The colour of the canvas reminded me of a dirty school boy's face, so I put it in the sink and scrubbed it hard! Afterwards it seemed fine. Anyway I was satisfied with it, I really think this is the best painting I ever did of a cripple. Don't you?” This is one of Lowry’s smallest ever limited edition runs from only 100 signed copies and is therefore highly sought after.
