The Terminus

Railway stations were a recurring theme in Maddox's depictions of the urban landscape. In them he saw the potential for chance encounters and inexplicable dramas of surrealism. But, whilst distancing himself from the mundane, Maddox never portrayed fantasies. His scenes were always grounded in commonplace urban reality. This fastidiously painted railway terminus building, beside overhead electrified cables and merging railway tracks is likely to be a real place. But, it appears disused in the normal sense. There are no hurrying passengers or waiting taxis. Instead, it is the setting for an ambiguous and paradoxical drama: a strong-man flexes his muscles, while a solitary, melancholy woman stares from an upper window, oblivious of the display of virility.

We are very grateful to Silvano Levy for his assistance in cataloguing the present lot.