Lobster Boats
Hubbard was a self taught artist who began exhibiting at the age of 16. His work was very versatile in both style and subject matter; his early paintings depicted romantic landscapes. He later became known as a painter of caravans and circus scenes. He then developed an interest in shipping subjects but went on to specialise in architectural, industrial and interior scenes. As with Lobster Boats, Hubbard's paintings are always strong in composition and have a fresh simplicity that defies his painstaking draughtsmanship. A perfectionist who destroyed more canvases than he exhibited, Hubbard would spend up to 30 hours per painting on preparatory drawings, looking at alternative compositions and developing different colour schemes. The unusual colouring of this piece is a result of the two years that Hubbard devoted to experimenting with colour theories, often 'far into the early hours of the morning'. He had a very singular vision towards his work, being aware of but 'quite untouched by the Modernist movement'. The Ferens purchased Lobster Boats from the artist after he exhibited it at the 1933 Hull Spring exhibition. Hubbard was delighted with the sale, stating 'I am glad that you have chosen one of my favourites'.
