Signed and dated lower right Lessore 1920.
Provenance: Collection of Natalie Bevan, c.2010s;
Fine Art Society London, c.2013.
The work combines linear drawing with watercolour wash, consistent with Lessore’s shift in style around this time in 1920. Earlier works from 1918–1919 include coloured crayons and chalks, while by 1920–1921 she moves toward a more restrained use of graphite and watercolour or ink. The subject appears to be a theatre or music hall interior, probably viewed from the gallery, as suggested by ornamental motifs in the architecture. The composition is closely cropped and seen from within the audience, with figures, women, children, and working-class individuals in winter clothing. The subjects to which she chose to turn her gaze mark a departure from precedents like Sickert, Degas, and Lautrec, forming a keen social observation of the growth of popular entertainment. A related work from 1918 (New Bedford) is held by Glasgow Museums, which has a strong collection of Lessore’s prints and watercolours. Other examples are in Liverpool and the Ashmolean Museum, though not yet digitalised.
We are grateful for Emma Jane Davis for providing the information above.
£ 3,200.-