Michelago Landscape 1923

George Washington Lambert painted “Michelago Landscape” during a period when Australian artists were grappling with questions of national identity and the representation of their environment. Lambert, who had a complex relationship with his own Australian identity, having spent significant time abroad, captures in this landscape something of the spirit of the pastoral ideal. But look closely, and you’ll see that this is no untouched wilderness. The land is worked. The rolling hills which fade into the distance show signs of human intervention with grazing cattle. The painting therefore suggests a dialogue between the romantic ideal of the Australian landscape and the reality of its use. The work invites us to reflect on how our relationship with the land shapes our identity, both individually and collectively. Lambert’s vision acknowledges the impact of settlement, and raises questions about stewardship. What does it mean to belong to a place, and what responsibilities come with that belonging?