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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Self portrait

1949
Louis Kahan AO

pen and ink on book page (frame: 46.0 cm x 36.2 cm, sheet: 24.0 cm x 16.5 cm)

Born in Vienna, Louis Kahan AO’s long and distinguished career spanned

most of the 20th century. Drawn to art from an early age, Kahan often

sketched portraits of his tailor father’s clients. He trained first as a

tailor and then a designer for Paul Poiret in Paris, where he

encountered the work of Picasso and Matisse. In 1939, he enlisted in the

Foreign Legion and worked for the American Red Cross, making thousands

of portraits of wounded servicemen in hospitals in North Africa.

Returning to Paris, he worked as an illustrator for Le Figaro before settling in Melbourne in 1950. Soon after he arrived the editor of Meanjin,

Clem Christesen, asked him to make a series of pen and ink portraits of

writers for the journal. This self portrait showcases Kahan’s capacity

for quick assemblage of the human face through reduced lines. The work

is lively and spontaneous, demonstrating his active mind. ‘Most of the

time is spent just thinking about it, looking at the work, the stage in

which the work is, and so drift, think and let things develop in my

mind.’

Gift of Dr Gene Sherman AM and Brian Sherman AM 2012. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Louis Kahan/Copyright Agency, 2024

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Louis Kahan AO (age 44 in 1949)

Subject professions

Visual arts and crafts

Donated by

Dr Gene Sherman AM (5 portraits)

Brian Sherman AM (4 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency