From 1900 to 1950, Lancashire's galleries vied with each other to build significant collections of work by the most important artists living in Britain. Creative Tension showcases the outstanding collections of a number of galleries. The book presents an alternative history of the time, demonstrating the tensions and crossovers between very different artistic styles. Works by famous artists such as L. S. Lowry, Ben Nicholson, Alfred Munnings, Jacob Epstein, Lucian Freud, and Mark Gertler are featured alongside pieces by lesser-known painters and sculptors whose work is significant for the period. There is an important section on studio pottery, a peculiarly British form of "abstract" art, with an essay that demonstrates its significance in contemporary art theory.