* Observation of his surroundings: Lowry was born and raised in a rapidly industrializing area of Northern England. He was surrounded by mills, factories, and terraced housing, which deeply influenced his art. He meticulously observed these structures and incorporated them into his paintings, capturing the essence of his environment.
* Social commentary: Beyond simply depicting buildings, Lowry used them to comment on the social conditions of his time. His paintings often feature small, isolated figures dwarfed by the imposing structures of factories and housing blocks, highlighting the alienation and anonymity of industrial life. He explored themes of poverty, social class, and the impact of urbanization on people's lives.
* Symbolic representation: For Lowry, buildings held a deeper symbolic meaning. They represented the power of industry, the dominance of technology, and the changing landscape of society. He often depicted them in a stylized and simplified manner, emphasizing their form and structure rather than their detailed features.
* Artistic expression: Lowry's unique style, with its vibrant colors, flattened perspective, and repetitive forms, was a personal expression of his artistic vision. Buildings provided him with a framework for exploring his visual language and developing his signature style.
* Nostalgia and memory: While Lowry often portrayed the harsh realities of industrial life, his work also evokes a sense of nostalgia and memory. His paintings capture the familiar sights of his childhood and offer a glimpse into a bygone era.
It's important to note that Lowry's work wasn't just about the buildings themselves but about the human lives that were shaped by them. He used them as a backdrop for his social observations and as a means of exploring the complex relationship between humans and the built environment.