Art in Western Australia has always been independent of the art made
elsewhere in Australia. The isolation of Perth and surrounding areas,
particularly in the 19th century, ensured that its art would be
distinctive. When early explorers and settlers arrived, they were
mesmerized by the light, heat, long horizons, and vast expanses, which
motivated them to create idyllic imagery of the Australian landscape. By
the end of the 19th century, a professional art scene had begun to
develop, with exhibitions, teachers, and art schools. This book
illustrates drawings, prints, and paintings, as well as fine furniture
and metalwork from explorers and settlers' early years in Western
Australia.