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Drysdale was a pioneer in certain aspects of his subject matter. One of the most important of these was his depiction of Aboriginal people from Cape York Peninsula which began as a small series in 1952-53. Prior to this, artists had tended to depict the indigenous people either with cool ethnographic detachment, or in more satirical tones, as quaint survivors of a primitive race.

From the above series, 'Group of Aborigines' is a profoundly compassionate portrait of humanity and regarded as one of Drysdale's masterpieces.

Using an extremely minimal image of the Australian landscape as backdrop, the artist has stripped his subjects of any trace of false sentiment, and invested them with an entirely new sense of dignity.

Details

  • Title: (Group of Aboriginal people)
  • Creator: Russell Drysdale
  • Creator Lifespan: 1912 - 1981
  • Creator Gender: Male
  • Creator Death Place: Bouddi, New South Wales, Australia
  • Creator Birth Place: Sussex, England
  • Date Created: (1953)
  • Physical Dimensions: 50.8 x 61.0 cm stretcher; 64.5 x 74.3 x 7.7 cm frame
  • Type: Painting
  • Rights: Purchased 2003 to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Art Gallery of New South Wales Foundation, with assistance from Foundation supporters, including the following major donors: Peter Weiss AM & Doris Weiss, John & Michelle Landerer, The Yeldham family, The Dusseldorp family, in memory of Anna Dusseldorp who owned the painting from 1962-2002, John & Inge Grant, Maurice & Christina Green, Dr & Mrs Hugh Taylor, John & Anne Leece, Geoff & Vicki Ainsworth, Margarete Ainsworth, Paul & Valeria Ainsworth, Mark & Lindy Ainsworth, John & Gail Marshall, Andrew & Michele Michael, Rowena Danziger & Ken Coles AM, Isaac & Susan Wakil, Mark & Louise Nelson, Stephen & Nanette Ainsworth, David Gonski AO & Dr Orli Wargon, Len Ainsworth, Russell & Lucinda Aboud, in memory of Hugh Buchanan May, Dr Malcolm Coppleson AO & Patricia Coppleson, John L Sharpe, Lady (Vincent) Fairfax OBE, Elizabeth Ramsden, Jim & Janette Bain, Bret Walker SC, Neville H Grace, Mr & Mrs HT Waller, Leslie & Ginny Green, Michael Gleeson-White © Russell Drysdale Estate
  • Medium: oil on canvas
  • Signature & Date: Signed l.r. corner, red oil "Russell Drysdale". Signed upper c. verso, brown oil ".../ RUSSELL DRYSDALE/ ...". Not dated.
  • Artist Country: Australia

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