The Artists' Camps: 'Plein Air' Painting in Australia by Helen Topliss

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Minor wear to book corners and edges. Fading to spine. Slipcase is in good condition with scuffing and fading. Book interior and binding are still excellent.

Documents the network of "plein air" (open air) painting sites and temporary camps established by artists on the outskirts of Melbourne and Sydney during the late 19th century.

It explores how artists like Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Frederick McCubbin, and Charles Conder lived and worked in rustic camps—such as those at Box Hill, Mentone, Eaglemont, and Sirius Cove—to capture the unique Australian light and landscape and recognises female artists of the period, including Jane Sutherland and Clara Southern.

The expansion of the Melbourne railway network allowed these artists to reach "bush" locations that were still close to the city, influencing the nationalistic tone of their painting.

The 1992 edition is a 214-page hardcover with a blue cloth binding and a matching slipcase.