Winter Sunlight 1908

Frederick McCubbin painted this landscape with oils, capturing a sun-drenched scene from what we can assume is rural Australia. Born in Melbourne, McCubbin played a key role in developing a distinctly Australian style within the Heidelberg School art movement. His focus on the bush is interesting. As a symbol of national identity, it was a place loaded with cultural significance, particularly for the European settlers. Note the presence of the chickens. The inclusion of domestic animals subtly alludes to themes of land use and the imposition of agriculture on Indigenous lands. McCubbin’s paintings often evoke a sense of nostalgia for an idealized past, but we might also consider how this romantic vision overlooks the complex history of colonial settlement. The dappled sunlight and vibrant greens invite us to reflect on our own relationship with the natural world. What do we bring with us when we look at the landscape? And what stories do we choose to tell about our place within it?