'The sea, well I like the sea for its own sake. I’m very fond of the sea … oh yes. I’m very fond of the sea …’
(L.S. Lowry, quoted in T.G. Rosenthal, L.S. Lowry, The Art and the Artist, Unicorn Press, Norwich, 2010, p.207.)
By the 1960s when Lowry's fame had reached new heights, he began to return to the themes of his earlier life, and to his life-long fascination with the sea. In this work, Lowry displays his skill and understanding as a draughtsman, in a visit to a small seaside town, just before his retirement. He is attracted to the activity of the scene before him, where boats and dingys jostle on the water front, and a group of figures meander around the shore. A harbour was a great draw for Lowry, and a place where he could guarantee that the hustle and bustle of life would tease out any amount of inspiration from the elements of the place.
During his life Lowry travelled the length of Britain, taking a particular interest in the coastal towns and cities. Favourite places were undoubtedly Rhyl in North Wales and Maryport in Cumbria. These locations allowed Lowry to bring together his ‘industrial’ scenes with his love of capturing water and its movement, and light and heavy shipping, as well as the general activity of a busy place that attracted people who were working as well as relaxing, and all with a holiday air about the proceedings.
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