In 1975 Russell Drysdale remarked: "It is fifteen years since I had an exhibition, such an exhibition was held at the Art Gallery, and there has been a lot of painting since that period. I'd like to see how they marry. It is always interesting, really, to look back. I wonder if they will ever offer it to me, that." 1. No such retrospective was realised in Russell Drysdale's lifetime, however from 1996 to 1997 Geoffrey Smith, Curator, 20th Century Australian Art at the National Gallery of Victoria located many of Drysdale's works in private collections both in Australia and overseas. Many of the paintings had not been publicly exhibited since they were painted. In addition to locating the works, Geoffrey Smith compiled these essays from his research. They span Drysdale's life and can be read here in their entirity or explored via the timelines that look at the career of Drysdale as person and painter and with relation to the social issues he explored and painted. 1. Transcript of Visual Arts Board archival film interview, 1975, quoted in Bibliography - The Life and Work of Russell Drysdale, Klepac 1983, p.188 An Australian Broadcasting Corporation and National Gallery of Victoria Collaboration © 1999 ABC and NGV