Fried fish and chips shops were found in large numbers in London at this time. The food became a staple of a working-class diet. De Karlowska focuses on the figures queuing up to be served. There is a strong sense of London life glimpsed in passing. She also captures the fall of yellow gaslight, penetrating the gloom of the street. When the picture was first exhibited, a reviewer commented, ‘Restful indeed are the quiet subtle harmonies of blue and yellow, while the soft steamy oily atmosphere lifts the common ‘Fried Fish Shop’ into the realm of poetry.’
Gallery label, October 2020
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