A rare indigenous art perspective

Tommy McRae’s silhouettes, c.1885

Making a Living

Tommy McRae, probably a Kwatkwat man, was born around 1830, and spent most of his life in the upper Murray region of New South Wales and Victoria, on Lake Moodemere. It seems he spent some time as a stockman for local pastoralists. In the 1860s, McRae began sketching, in his unique silhouette style, both traditional Aboriginal life and European pastoralists. His reputation grew amongst European collectors who sought out his work, and would often supply him with sketchbooks and pens in return for drawings. It is said that this trade allowed him to live in some comfort.

The album from which this drawing is taken was purchased by a Mr Lefaivre in the 1880s. Lefaivre, a travelling salesman, was passing through Corowa, near Lake Moodemere, when he was alerted to McRae’s talents. Lefaivre bought an album, pen and ink, which he gave to McRae, who agreed to fill it with drawings for one pound, which took him about two weeks.
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