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

Mervyn Levy discusses this fluidly executed work, commenting on Lowry's representation of an ordinary street scene and its inhabitants, 'The mood is gently but pointedly satirical. The artist frequently concentrated his use of distortion upon the image of the dog. 'Man's best friend'? - these dogs are more like the hounds of hell. Invert the proposition and you have man in his true role. Lowry's symbolism was often complex and provocative' (M. Levy, loc. cit.).