Burnt Landscape II (Bushfire Series) 1970

Curator: The desolation is immediately palpable. There’s something deeply unsettling about this landscape. Editor: This is Fred Williams' "Burnt Landscape II (Bushfire Series)" which belongs to the Tate Collections. Note the dimensions, nearly two meters tall. It's an imposing canvas. Curator: Imposing and mournful. The stark horizon line, the muted colors. It speaks to environmental devastation, but also perhaps to resilience after trauma. Are we looking at a reflection of human impact and our troubled relationship with nature? Editor: Williams painted extensively in the Australian landscape, and this work definitely reflects anxieties around ecological damage, yet I also see a continuation of traditional landscape painting strategies. Curator: I see it as more than that. The starkness feels like a challenge to patriarchal notions of dominance over the land, doesn't it? Editor: Perhaps, but it’s also important to remember the historical context of landscape painting within Australian nationalism. Curator: I appreciate how you bring the weight of art history to the conversation, and I value the opportunity to challenge established conventions. Editor: And I appreciate your perspective – it keeps the conversation relevant and vibrant.