The Pioneer
Frederick McCubbin Β· 1904
Why it's great
A big three-part painting shows a young pioneer couple in the Australian bush, with the husband swinging an axe, the wife listening to the sounds of the forest, and, in the last panel, a city rising where the forest was. Frederick McCubbin painted this in 1904 to celebrate the settlers. Today, we also ask what the Aboriginal people lost. It's one of Australia's most famous paintings.
Where to see it
π National Gallery of VictoriaMelbourne, Australia
Open in Maps β About this museum βHang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Frederick McCubbin was born in Melbourne and became a leading painter of the Heidelberg School. He painted the Australian bush and the pioneers with great feeling. He taught at the National Gallery school. He died in Melbourne in 1917.
