L.S. Lowry (1887–1976) was an English artist best known for his distinctive depictions of industrial scenes and urban life in northern England. His paintings often feature "matchstick men" — simplified, elongated figures — set against the backdrop of factories, mills, and smokestacks. Lowry's works captured the hardships and daily lives of the working class, conveying a sense of both the monotony and vitality of industrial life.