Landscape with Figures(1975)

Landscape with Figures is a documentary series that traces Australian art from the arrival of the First Fleet to the modern era. Writer, historian, and art critic Robert Hughes surveys the nation's artistic development through the lens of social history, examining how overseas influences shaped Australian creativity. The series reveals the cultural forces and international prototypes that informed local artists, connecting each work to its historical moment. Hughes explores how Australia's unique landscape and colonial experience produced a distinctive artistic voice, moving from early colonial painters through to contemporary practice. The documentary balances aesthetic analysis with social context, offering viewers insight into how Australian art evolved as the nation itself transformed.