Charcoal Burners 1886

Tom Roberts made ‘Charcoal Burners’ with oil paints, using a traditional technique to depict a less-than-traditional subject. You see three laborers at work, dwarfed by the surrounding eucalyptus forest, preparing fuel for industry and homes. Roberts has paid close attention to the character of the materials – the rough-hewn logs, the smoke rising from the charcoal stacks, and the workers’ rudimentary tools. The texture of the paint mimics the coarseness of the wood, grounding the image in the physical reality of the scene. Look closely at the man swinging his axe: Roberts conveys the weight and force of the tool, as well as the effort involved in the production process. Although Roberts was trained in a classical academic style, he chose to represent the everyday labor of ordinary people. His decision to elevate this kind of work to the level of fine art underscores the value of all kinds of making, and its role in Australian life.