After returning to Quebec from Europe, Frederick Coburn sought to depict the radiant light and crisp snow of the Canadian winter landscape. Like his contemporaries, such as Gagnon, Suzor-Coté, Morrice and Cullen, Coburn was inspired by the natural aesthetic beauty of the Quebec Eastern Townships. He had a fondness for horses and frequently depicted a team of horses in his compositions of bright winter days in the townships. These charming logging scenes, such as “Hauling Logs”, soon became quintessential to Coburn’s oeuvre and won the artist great acclaim. Coburn became hard pressed to meet the demands of his clientele in Montreal, who were introduced to the paintings by the Watson Art Gallery, and desired a memory of the brilliant Quebec countryside.
