Wyndham Lewis

The Crowd

?exhibited 1915

© Wyndham Lewis and the estate of Mrs G A Wyndham Lewis by kind permission of the Wyndham Lewis Memorial Trust (a registered charity)

License this image

Not on display
Artist
Wyndham Lewis 1882–1957
Medium
Oil paint and graphite on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 2007 x 1537 mm
frame: 2195 x 1740 x 60 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Presented by the Friends of the Tate Gallery 1964
Reference
T00689

Display caption

Lewis was interested in the instinctive behaviour of people in crowds. Here, red stick-like figures appear in groups throughout the composition; two wield a red flag while a third waves a tricolour flag, perhaps indicating protest or the existence of opposing political groups. This painting was also shown under the title Revolution. The overall composition appears to show individuals being overshadowed and lost within the vast machinery and architecture of the city.

Gallery label, March 2018

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Vorticism

Explore

You might like

Left Right
Wyndham Lewis, ‘Workshop’ c.1914–15

Wyndham Lewis Workshop

c.1914–15
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
Wyndham Lewis, ‘Bagdad’ 1927–8

Wyndham Lewis Bagdad

1927–8
Wyndham Lewis, ‘Red Scene’ 1933–6

Wyndham Lewis Red Scene

1933–6
Wyndham Lewis, ‘Composition’ 1913

Wyndham Lewis Composition

1913
Wyndham Lewis, ‘The Surrender of Barcelona’ 1934–7

Wyndham Lewis The Surrender of Barcelona

1934–7
Wyndham Lewis, ‘Two Mechanics’ c.1912

Wyndham Lewis Two Mechanics

c.1912
Wyndham Lewis, ‘Edith Sitwell’ 1923–35

Wyndham Lewis Edith Sitwell

1923–35
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
Wyndham Lewis, ‘Mrs Schiff’ 1923–4

Wyndham Lewis Mrs Schiff

1923–4
Wyndham Lewis, ‘Indian Dance’ 1912

Wyndham Lewis Indian Dance

1912
David Bomberg, ‘The Mud Bath’ 1914

David Bomberg The Mud Bath

1914
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
Wyndham Lewis, ‘Madge Pulsford’ 1920

Wyndham Lewis Madge Pulsford

1920
Wyndham Lewis, ‘Creation Myth’ 1927

Wyndham Lewis Creation Myth

1927
Wyndham Lewis, ‘Ezra Pound’ 1939

Wyndham Lewis Ezra Pound

1939
Wyndham Lewis, ‘Planners: Happy Day’ 1912–13

Wyndham Lewis Planners: Happy Day

1912–13
Wyndham Lewis, ‘A Canadian War Factory’ 1943

Wyndham Lewis A Canadian War Factory

1943