Rethinking Australia’s Art History: The Challenge of Aboriginal Art (Studies in Art Historiography)

Cover; Title; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; List of Illustrations; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1 Writing a History of Encounters; i Aboriginal Art in Australian Art Histories; ii Anthropological Studies of Aboriginal Art History; iii Legacies of Primitivism; iv New Art Histories; v Current Directions in Writing on Aboriginal Art; 2 Exploration and 'Discovery'; i First Encounters: Baudin, Flinders and King, Grey and Stokes; ii Secondary Accounts: Hull, Tenison-Woods, Wake, Smyth and Curr; 3 Searching for the Origin of Art; i Early Science: Darwin, Howitt and Tylor;This book aims to redefine Australia's earliest art history by chronicling for the first time the birth of the category "Aboriginal art," tracing the term's use through published literature in the late eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Susan Lowish reveals how the idea of "Aboriginal art" developed in the European imagination, manifested in early literature, and became a distinct classification with its own criteria and form. Part of the larger story of Aboriginal/European engagement, this book provides a new vision for an Australian art history reconciled with its colonial origins and in recognition of what came before the contemporary phenomena of Aboriginal art. Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Writing a History of Encounters i Aboriginal Art in Australian Art Histories ii Anthropological Studies of Aboriginal Art History iii Legacies of Primitivism iv New Art Histories v Current Directions in Writing on Aboriginal Art 2 Exploration and 'Discovery' i First Encounters: Baudin, Flinders and King, Grey and Stokes ii Secondary Accounts: Hull, Tenison-Woods, Wake, Smyth and Curr 3 Searching for the Origin of Art i Early Science: Darwin, Howitt and Tylor Ii Following Grey: Bradshaw, Brockman and House, Greig and Walsh4 Seeing the Art of the First Australians i Early Australian Anthropology and Ethnology: between Science and Christianity: Roth, Worsnop, Thornton and Mathew 5 Evolutionists and Australian Aboriginal Art i Science and Art History: Ruskin, Decorative Art and Grosse ii Spencer's Anthropological Influences: Balfour, Haddon, Lang and Frazer 6 'Aboriginal Art' in the Writings of Baldwin Spencer i Spencer and Anthropology: Horn Expedition, Native Tribes of Central Australia and Northern Tribes of Central Australia Ii Spencer and Art: Across Australia, Native Tribes of the Northern Territory, The Arunta and Wanderings in Wild Australia7 Collecting and Exhibiting: The Dawn of 'Primitive Art' i The First Collections: International and Colonial Exhibitions and the Changing Content of Displays ii Aboriginal Art and Museums: A Defining Relationship: The Influence of Pitt Rivers on Australian Museum Displays, the Australian Museum in Sydney and from Weapons to Art Conclusion Bibliography Index This Book Aims To Redefine Australia's Earliest Art History By Chronicling For The First Time The Birth Of The Category Aboriginal Art, Tracing The Term's Use Through Published Literature In The Late Eighteenth, Nineteenth And Early Twentieth Centuries. Susan Lowish Reveals How The Idea Of Aboriginal Art Developed In The European Imagination, Manifested In Early Literature, And Became A Distinct Classification With Its Own Criteria And Form. Part Of The Larger Story Of Aboriginal/european Engagement, This Book Provides A New Vision For An Australian Art History Reconciled With Its Colonial Origins And In Recognition Of What Came Before The Contemporary Phenomena Of Aboriginal Art--publisher's Description. Introduction -- Writing A History Of Encounters -- Exploration And Discovery -- Searching For The Origin Of Art -- Seeing The Art Of The First Australians -- Evolutionists And Australian Aboriginal Art -- Aboriginal Art In The Writings Of Baldwin Spencer -- Collecting And Exhibiting: The Dawn Of Primitive Art. Susan Lowish. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.