The Butte, Polygon Wood

Depicts a butte or hill at Polygon Wood, Menin Road Area, Western Front, France with war damaged trees and landscape. The son of artist Frederick McCubbin, Louis McCubbin was born in Melbourne in 1890, and studied at the National Gallery School from 1906 until 1911. In 1916, he enlisted with the 14th Battalion of the AIF and served in France from November 1917 with the 10th Field Ambulance. McCubbin undertook a camouflage course in 1918 and became one of five soldiers already serving with the AIF to be appointed an official war artist affiliated with the Australian War Records Section. McCubbin worked as Officer-in-Charge of Camouflage for the 3rd Division AIF. His appointment ceased in 1920 and in same year, he returned to Australia and was employed, until 1930, by the Australian War Memorial to paint the backgrounds to the dioramas. He also produced numerous watercolour preparatory sketches and two series of paintings to complement the dioramas. McCubbin was re-employed by the Memorial from 1935-1936 to undertake commissions for large paintings. These include Peronne, Heavy artillery advancing through the town, 1918 (ART03043) and Sailly-le-Sec, 1918 (ART03122), both depicting war damage on the Western Front.