L.S.LOWRY´S MATCHSTICK MEN

Piccadilly Circus

L.S. Lowry was one of the greatest British artists of the XX century. He was also one of the most unusual. The images of matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs with which he became popular were, and still are, a totally unique strand of European art.

Going to the Match

Apart from these matchstick men he was also famous for painting scenes of life in industrial North-West England in the mid-20th century.

Coming Home from the Mill

Although he has sometimes been considered a naive "Sunday" painter, he is nowadays recognised as one of the most important British painters in the last one hundred years, as it is proved by the major retrospective opened at the prestigious Tate Britain in June 2013.

Going to Work

As a curiosity, we can say that he was a very private person and holds the record for the most rejected British honours (five in total, among them a knighthood).

A Village Square

At the Seaside

Children´s Playground

His matchstick men have become an important cultural reference in Britain. So, rock band Status Quo paid tribute to him in their single "Pictures of Matchstick Men", which became their first hit single.

                                                   
                                                      Pictures of Matchstick Men, Status Quo


In 1978, Brian and Michael reached number one in British charts with the tribute "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs". They have also influences works by film director Terry Gillian, rock band Oasis or even Burberry clothes designs.

                                              Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs

Northern English rock band Oasis made this song in 1996. The song was included  in Oasis' compilation album, Stop the Clocks (1986) and a special L.S. Lowry-inspired animated promotional video was created.

                                                                   The Masterplan  Oasis.