Russell Drysdale
(England, Australia 07 Feb 1912–29 Jun 1981)
- Title
- Woman lounging
- Place of origin
-
Sydney →
New South Wales →
Australia
- Year
- (circa 1941)
- Media category
- Drawing
- Materials used
- pen and black ink, dry brush and brown ink on paper
- Dimensions
-
28.2 x 38.4cm sheet
- Signature & date
- Signed l.r., pen and ink "Russell Drysdale". Not dated.
- Credit
- Purchased 1964
- Accession number
- DA52.1964
- Copyright
- © Russell Drysdale Estate
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
Russell Drysdale was a gifted draughtsman, and drew continually, developing his powers of observation and capturing his subjects in numerous variations. The 1940s saw his interests broaden to encompass aspects of Surrealism, as well as the work of Picasso, Modigliani and Henry Moore, which in turn informed Drysdale's renowned paintings of the Australian landscape; these works were to confirm his reputation as a major Australian artist. His work always remained centred on his sympathy for ordinary people and everyday experience.
This drawing was made in 1941 or 1942 from memory. Drysdale had attended a party, and saw a woman leaning back into an armchair, a cigarette between her lips. 'I remember being struck with the pose and did think of painting it but never got round to it. I gave it to Sydney Ure Smith because he liked it so much' [as related to Daniel Thomas, AGNSW, by the artist]. Sydney Ure Smith (1887-1949) was an artist, publisher, collector and friend to many artists, including Drysdale.
© Australian Art Department, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2004
- Bibliography (5)
-
Lou Klepac (Australia; Croatia, b.1936) (Author), Russell Drysdale: the drawings, Roseville, 2012, 58 (colour illus.).
Hendrik Kolenberg (Netherlands; Australia) (Author), Australian drawings from the Gallery's collection, Domain, 1997, 10 (colour illus.), 68 (illus.). cat.no. 59
Hendrik Kolenberg (Netherlands; Australia) (Author), Everyday life: prints drawings and watercolours from the collections of Australian and European art, Sydney, 1994. cat.no. 23
Art Gallery of Western Australia (Australia) (Author), The drawings of Russell Drysdale: 1980 Perth survey of drawing, Perth, 1980. cat.no. 20
Sydney Ure Smith (Australia, b.1887, d.1949) (Editor), Australian present day art, Sydney, 1943, 34.
- Exhibition history (14)
-
The Drawings of Russell Drysdale - 1980 Perth Survey of Drawing, Art Gallery of Western Australia, 21 Feb 1980–23 Mar 1980.
The Drawings of Russell Drysdale - 1980 Perth Survey of Drawing, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 12 Apr 1980–18 May 1980.
The Drawings of Russell Drysdale - 1980 Perth Survey of Drawing, Brisbane City Gallery, 02 Jul 1980–01 Aug 1980.
The Drawings of Russell Drysdale - 1980 Perth Survey of Drawing, Art Gallery of South Australia, 06 Sep 1980–19 Oct 1980.
Everyday Life, prints, drawings and watercolours from the collections of Australian and European Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 01 Oct 1994–27 Nov 1994.
Everyday Life, prints, drawings and watercolours from the collections of Australian and European Art, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, 04 Mar 1995–01 Apr 1995.
Everyday Life, prints, drawings and watercolours from the collections of Australian and European Art, Griffith Regional Art Gallery, 03 May 1995–03 Jun 1995.
Everyday Life, prints, drawings and watercolours from the collections of Australian and European Art, Wagga Wagga City Art Gallery, 22 Jun 1995–30 Jul 1995.
Australian drawings from the Gallery's collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 13 Dec 1997–15 Mar 1998.
Australian icons: twenty artists from the collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 04 Aug 2000–03 Dec 2000.
Themes and Variations: Australian drawings from the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, 17 Oct 2008–30 Nov 2008.
Russell Drysdale: the drawings, S.H. Ervin Gallery, 17 Feb 2012–25 Mar 2012.
Russell Drysdale: the drawings, Carrick Hill, 04 Apr 2012–17 Jun 2012.
Russell Drysdale: the drawings, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, 26 Jun 2012–05 Aug 2012.
