History

• The painting is of factory workers going to work at Mather & Platter factory, which was an engineering factory in Manchester, England.
• Comissioned in 1943 at the height of the Second World War, by WAAC (War Artists Committee) to document the role industry and factories were playing in the war effort.
• It was completed in three months, and toured different museums both in English and abroad.
• Lowry was paid 25 guineas for the painting, which equates roughly to £1,194 today.

Composition

• 45x60cm
• Oil paint on canvas
• Black canvas painted white in many layers, which is what gives the distinctive ‘smoky haze’.

Present Day

• Currently displayed at the Imperial War Museum in Manchester
• Before being displayed, it underwent restoration to remove yellowed varnish. This must have been added by a previous owner of the painting, as Lowry did not varnish his paintings.

Artist

• L S Lowry was an English artist, born in Lancashire.
• Lowry is famous for painting scenes of life in the industrial districtsof North West England in the mid-20th century. He developed a distinctive style of painting and is best known for his urban landscapes peopled with human figures often referred to as “matchstick men”
• Other works include ‘Coming From The Mill’, ‘Going To The Match’, and ‘Coming Out Of School’
• Born 1^st November 1887
• Died 23^rd February 1976 (aged 88)