Bush Sawyers 1910

Frederick McCubbin made this painting of "Bush Sawyers" with oil on canvas. Look at the colors he’s using: they’re earthy and muted, sort of a soft realism. You can feel the weight of the labor and the hazy light of the forest. McCubbin really builds up the paint, especially in the foliage around the figures. It’s not about hiding the brushstrokes, but letting them do some work. The textures feel tactile, like you could reach out and touch the rough bark of the trees. The way he layers the greens and browns feels like he is trying to capture the density of the Australian bush. My eyes keep going back to the men: they are working on the felled tree, the thick paint is applied more smoothly to describe their bodies, pulling you into their world. It reminds me a little of Millet, but with more gumption. Art’s a conversation, right? A way of seeing and feeling passed back and forth. And maybe the best art leaves some space for the mystery, for things we can't quite put our finger on.