Sometimes known by an early title Nine Figures on a Hill, the series comprises nine large bronze standing sculptures each about 8 ft (2.4 m) high, that can be arranged as an ensemble to represent a group of people.
They have been compared to Stone Age menhirs, and may take inspiration from Edward Steichen touring photography exhibition entitled The Family of Man.
Each figure is modular, formed from several stacked geometric shapes, similar enough to be part of the same family, but gradually becoming more complicated as they progress through different stages of life, with two shapes for Youth and Young Girl, three for Parent II and The Bride, and four each for Ancestor I, Ancestor II, Parent I, The Bridegroom, and Ultimate Form.
A complete series has been displayed by the Yorkshire Sculpture Park since 1980 (on loan from the Hepworth Estate).
A cast of Ancestor I, is displayed at the University of Birmingham (on loan from the Hepworth Estate) and another at the L'esplanade Laurier in Ottawa.