Out of the West

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.