Landscapes in art are the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, forstst, trees, and rivers, and especially wherein the primary subject is a wide view, with its natural elements arranged into a coherent composition.
Additionally, landscape backgrounds for figures can still form an integral part of the work. Traditionally, sky is nearly always included in the view, and weather is frequently an element included in the composition. Detailed landscapes, as a distinct art form, are not found in all artistic traditions, and have developed when there is a pre-existing and sophisticated artistic tradition representing other subjects. The two primary traditions spring from Western painting and Chinese art, going back well over a thousand years in both cases.