A new photo essay by the Guardian explores how gum trees have appeared in Australian art over the centuries. The gallery spans from the first European scientific drawing in 1788 to modern works. It shows how the eucalyptus tree became a symbol of Australia.
The first European description of a eucalypt was published in 1788 by French botanist Charles-Louis L'Heritier. The engraving was based on specimens taken from Tasmania during Captain Cook's second voyage. Early Australian artists painted huge gums as backdrops for settler life.
🔍 The Backstory
Gum trees are unique to Australia and its surrounding islands. There are over 700 species of eucalyptus. They have been central to Indigenous Australian life for tens of thousands of years, used for food, medicine, and tools.
When European settlers arrived, they saw gum trees as strange and alien. Artists of the 1800s worked to capture the 'untidy nature' of gums. The tree became a symbol of the Australian landscape. Today, gum trees are beloved icons but also face threats from climate change, bushfires, and land clearing.
🎯 Why It Matters
Art tells us how Australians have seen their own land over time. Understanding the gum tree's place in art helps us appreciate what makes Australia's landscape special and worth protecting.
A new photo essay by the Guardian explores how gum trees have appeared in Australian art over the centuries. The gallery spans from the first European scientific drawing in 1788 to modern works. It shows how the eucalyptus tree became a symbol of Australia.
The first European description of a eucalypt was published in 1788 by French botanist Charles-Louis L'Heritier. The engraving was based on specimens taken from Tasmania during Captain Cook's second voyage. Early Australian artists painted huge gums as backdrops for settler life.
Gum trees are unique to Australia and its surrounding islands. There are over 700 species of eucalyptus. They have been central to Indigenous Australian life for tens of thousands of years, used for food, medicine, and tools.
When European settlers arrived, they saw gum trees as strange and alien. Artists of the 1800s worked to capture the 'untidy nature' of gums. The tree became a symbol of the Australian landscape. Today, gum trees are beloved icons but also face threats from climate change, bushfires, and land clearing.
Art tells us how Australians have seen their own land over time. Understanding the gum tree's place in art helps us appreciate what makes Australia's landscape special and worth protecting.