This book traces the evolution of printmaking by Australian artists from 1942 to 2020, an era marked by significant societal and artistic transformations. It is structured into three parts, commencing with the foundational wartime policy initiatives of the Commonwealth Reconstruction Scheme. This period saw émigré and returning Australian artists establish printmaking societies, galleries, and publishers, fostering the growth of this accessible art form. The subsequent sections examine the emergence of political and social posters in the 1970s and 1980s, the prominent role of prints by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and contemporary printmakers' engagement with themes of land and identity.

The book is structured chronologically and thematically, offering a comprehensive overview of Australian printmaking over eight decades. It highlights key periods, including the post-war establishment of printmaking societies and the vibrant poster art of the 1970s and 80s. The text also emphasizes the crucial contributions of Indigenous Australian artists and contemporary engagement with themes of land and identity. This approach suggests a work that serves as both a historical survey and an exploration of evolving artistic concerns within the Australian context.