Laurence Stephen Lowry, R.A. (1887-1976)

Station Approach, 1972-3

Offset lithograph on wove paper, after the original oil painting from 1962 of the same title

Signed ‘L.S. Lowry’ lower right in pencil and numbered from the edition of 850

Stamped by the Fine Art Trade Guild

Published by the Adam Collection Ltd.

Size: 16 x 20 in.

Provenance Private Collection, U.K.

Condition: Excellent

This work offers a bustling snapshot of Manchester’s city centre, set against the Manchester Exchange Station. Through his signature stick figures, Lowry captures the rhythm and energy of urban life, showing the interplay between people, traffic, and the built environment. The muted colour palette, dominated by shades of industrial grey, evokes the city’s overcast skies and industrial atmosphere.

The London and North Western Railway Exchange Station, built in 1884 and closed in 1969, anchors the scene as a historical reference, highlighting the city’s evolving infrastructure. Lowry also depicts the tower of the Church of St Mary the Virgin, emphasising his attention to architectural landmarks. Beyond recording the urban landscape, Lowry’s work provides a window into 20th-century English life, blending artistic vision with historical insight.