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Laurence Stephen Lowry R.A.(1887-1976)Going to the Match, 1972
Sold for £33,280 inc. premium
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Find your local specialistLaurence Stephen Lowry R.A. (1887-1976)
signed in pencil, from the edition of 300
offset lithograph in colours
64.4 x 78.6cm (25 3/8 x 30 15/16in).
Printed by Max Jaffé, Vienna, published by the Medici Society, London, with the Fine Art Trade Guild blindstamp
Footnotes
In one of his most iconic images Lowry captures bustling crowds of football fans attending a match at Bolton Wanderers' former Burnden Park stadium. Lowry places the dedicated fans, his distinctive "matchstick men", at the centre of this composition, focusing on the collective ritual of attending a football game. The figures' united linear movement and sweeping diagonals convey their anticipation and sense of speed, drawing the viewer's gaze towards the stadium structure. The scene portrays the community spirit and excitement of football culture, representing what match day means to fans. Lowry also weaves the industrial landscape, typical of his oeuvre, into the scene, with mills and factories unfolding on the horizon.
The print was created after Lowry's Going to the Match painting which, in 1953, was entered into a competition called 'Football and the Fine Arts', to mark the Football Association's 90th anniversary. Lowry's painting won first prize in the Painting category, amongst 1,700 entries.
The scene of the print, Bolton Wanderer's old Burnden Park stadium, was merely a few miles from Lowry's home. However, Lowry was not a Bolton Wanderers supporter, as he supported another local team, Manchester City. Lowry's fascination with everyday life is prevalent as he is removed from the action, quietly observing the crowd's shared love of football.