This image of a deserted street corner is a surprise from an artist better known for his crowded city landscapes. Lowry often recorded the ebb and flow of people’s daily lives, and so the striking absence of any living soul here is unsettling. Indeed, there is a mournful feel to the house at the centre of the picture, with its narrow black front door, partially drawn curtains, and pavement-level window to a dark basement. Only a hint of colour in the flowers in the window strays from the monotonous and repetitive palette. In fact, the house is the birthplace of David Lloyd George. Described as ‘the most famous Welshman ever born in Manchester’, he became the youngest member of the House of Commons and eventually Prime Minister – a platform from which he was determined to launch a series of radical social reforms.