This collection investigates the intersection of Australian cultural identity, art history, and the post-colonial experience through a series of critical essays. Bernard Smith, a prominent historian and art critic, utilizes his extensive background in academia to examine how European artistic traditions were adapted and transformed within the antipodean context. The work presents a framework for understanding the development of a distinct regional aesthetic that challenges traditional Eurocentric narratives.

Scholars frequently cite this collection as a foundational text for understanding the development of Australian art historiography. Readers often note the academic rigor and the depth of Smith's critical engagement with the cultural landscape of the region.