| L.S. Lowry This painting always reminds me of seeing fights outside pubs - they always draw a crowd; some don't know how they should feel but are drawn to it like a moth to a flame; others, maybe closer to each 'fighter', encourage each one and 'fight' the 'fight' without throwing a punch - cowards directing traffic.
Very few want it to end. Whatever, but each fight I have seen I come away with the impression of how pathetic each fight is. Usually alcohol-charged they look unintentionally comic when you compare them to professional fights like the first bout of Randolph Turpin-Sugar Ray Robinson or any of the Ali-Frazier bouts. These are works of art and by comparison these street 'fights' are like Sunday-school painters attempting to paint Lowry. I think sometimes those in these 'fights' subconsciously realise through the drunken haze how comic they look and do something desperate to alleviate their inner embarrassement like pull the hat over the rival's eyes or rip a bit of clothing off him. At the end of the day like anyting fighting should be left for the professionals. Lowry captures the comedy of the Sunday-school fighters to perfection. |
