This book investigates the development of Australian visual culture by examining the complex intersection between Indigenous Aboriginal traditions and European colonial artistic practices. Andrew Sayers, a former director of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia, utilizes his extensive curatorial background to synthesize a historical narrative that spans from the 1788 colonization to the contemporary era. He argues that Australian art is not a singular tradition but a multifaceted dialogue between disparate cultural perspectives and evolving environmental influences.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational survey that successfully integrates Indigenous and colonial perspectives into a cohesive historical framework. Readers frequently note the clarity of the prose, which makes complex art-historical developments accessible to both students and general enthusiasts.