Theodore Major Original Artworks
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Explore the compelling art of Theodore Major, a British painter renowned for his evocative depictions of industrial northern England. Major's works capture the stark beauty of Wigan's landscapes, portraying factories, streets, and sunscapes with a profound emotional depth. His paintings often reflect themes of social realism, infused with a personal vision that challenges conventional aesthetics. Delve into Major's collection to experience the raw power and introspective quality that define his unique artistic legacy.
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Works
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Biography
Born in 1908 in Wigan, Lancashire to a family of mill workers, Theodore Major is as well known for his individual views as for his artwork. He was proud of his working class roots and refused to paint for gain, declining to sell pictures 'to rich people', but instead using his art to try and connect with ordinary people outside the art world. Although he never sought notoriety, he came to the attention of the media in 1992 when he refused to pay a poll tax bill of almost £2,000 on an unoccupied house. He was threatened with prison, but the sentence and bill were later remitted due to Theodore's age and health. He attended evening art classes at Wigan Art School, but always thought of himself as essentially self taught. Theodore Major embarked on an artistic career as a cartoonist with the Daily Mail and Manchester Guardian, and later shared an exhibition with L.S.Lowry. He died in 1999 having reached the age of 90, despite a lifetime of ill health caused by childhood bouts of rheumatic fever.
Theodore Major's work mostly depicts the area around Wigan, including grim rainswept factory landscapes and lonely beaches, painted in a largely monochrome, Expressionist style. During his lifetime he was averse to selling his work and seeing it in private collections, choosing instead to store it in an empty house next door which he bought for the purpose. His eccentricities have fuelled an appetite for his work, and there's a strong market for his landscapes and scenes of urban life.
As with all artwork, the value of Theodore Major's work varies enormously according to the provenance, media, size and subject matter. The most sought after examples are the large depictions in oil of bleak industrial landscapes populated with figures or the scenes of Wigan.
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Exhibitions
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FAQs
Theodore Major, a reclusive northern painter, explored both local and universal themes. While known for his gritty industrial landscapes and portraits of Lancashire workers, he also tackled pollution and atomic war. Despite his dark, impastoed depictions of Wigan, his florals were delicate in contrast. Born in Wigan into a working-class family, Theo left school at 13 due to illness and devoted himself to art. Though largely self-taught, he attended Wigan and Southport art schools, later teaching at Wigan, where he met his wife, Kathleen. Her stable income allowed him to focus on painting. Theo gained local recognition for his symbolic depictions of industrial life, often portraying solitary figures in smog. His work impressed Marxist critic John Berger, who ranked it among the best English paintings. Though he exhibited alongside Lowry, he struggled financially. Disillusioned with the art world, Theo withdrew further after Kathleen’s death in 1978. He stopped exhibiting, instead storing thousands of canvases in his home and a second house. Despite his reclusiveness, he opened his studio to visitors, known for his outspoken views. In 1984, Salford Art Gallery held a major exhibition of his work, but he refused to part with his paintings, hoping for a dedicated gallery in Wigan. His daughter, Mary Major, later captured his life in Vision Splendid (Phillimore). Major's paintings frequently explore themes of industrialisation, social realism and human experience. He depicted the factories, mills and streets of Wigan as well as, nudes both as portraits and stylized vibrant figures full of movement and fun, florals and still life compositions and imaginative scenes that conveyed his perspectives on society and existence.
Major's art is characterised by its raw portrayal of industrial landscapes and emotive subjects. He employed a sombre palette to depict the harsh realities of working-class life in northern England. His works often evoke a sense of melancholy and introspection, reflecting his deep connection to his environment and the social issues of his time.
Major's paintings frequently explore themes of industrialisation, social realism and human experience. He depicted the factories, mills and streets of Wigan as well as, nudes both as portraits and stylised vibrant figures full of movement and fun, florals and still life compositions and imaginative scenes that conveyed his perspectives on society and existence. His work serves as a commentary on the socio - economic conditions of his era. Theo once said " I don’t paint pictures for people to live with – my paintings are not created to decorate a room. How would these people like to live with Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel paintings? I always get mentioned with L. S. Lowry – why? I feel and express the opposite to Lowry. He expressed his own sadness and loneliness. I try to express nothing of myself – but the thing I am painting... I feel much in common with Blake, Picasso, Van Gogh and all the great masters of painting, music and poetry. These are my real friends...’
Major is regarded as a significant figure in British art, particularly within the Northern Art movement. His commitment to portraying the realities of industrial life and his resistance to commercial pressures have inspired discussions about the role of art in society. His works continue to be studied for their artistic merit and social commentary.
