The City's Toil 1887

Frederick McCubbin made this oil on canvas titled 'The City's Toil'. Though undated, it likely reflects the artist's observations of urban life in late 19th-century Australia. McCubbin depicts a bustling dockyard, a hive of labor, with figures loading cargo onto ships. It serves as a window into the economic activities that propelled cities like Melbourne forward. Yet there is a sense of detachment in his gaze. Where Impressionists like Monet focused on leisure, McCubbin captures labor and the working classes. Historical archives and shipping records would help place this dockyard in Melbourne. The painting’s muted palette and focus on labor suggest a commentary on the social conditions of his time. Was he highlighting their plight or celebrating their contribution? Either way, McCubbin used art as a mirror reflecting the realities of a society undergoing rapid transformation.