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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.

Alan Marshall

n.d.
Louis Kahan AO

fibre-tipped pen and pen and ink on paper laid down on cardboard (sheet: 57.0 cm x 39.2 cm)

Alan Marshall AM OBE (1902-84), writer, began life in Victoria’s Western District. His infantile paralysis (polio) left him permanently disabled. As a teenager in Melbourne he wrote with great dedication, working as a shoe factory’s accountant in the 1930s. Marshall won three Australian Literary Society Short Story Awards, was published in 1934, wrote for Worker’s Voice, Communist Review, news magazines and Meanjin. He edited anti-fascist review Point and was president of the Victorian Writers’ League. He never joined the Communist Party, but attracted the interest of ASIO. His best-known, autobiographical work, I Can Jump Puddles (1955), details the challenges and triumphs of his childhood. The book, translated into many languages, sold more than 3 million copies and was made into an award-winning film in Czechoslovakia in 1970 and an Australian television series. Marshall is a recipient of the Soviet Order of Friendship and he has worked on projects highlighting the challenges confronting people with disabilities. Several literary awards commemorate him.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Mrs Lily Kahan 2017
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.

Donated by

Lily Kahan (52 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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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 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