Kneeling Figure

Bronze sculpture depicting a ¾ posed female figure, kneeling on one knee. The work is part of a series of three sculptures, all of female figures, which Duldig originally carved in potatoes while an internee, at Tatura camp, Victoria. Made during the Second World War, the plaster figures were based on the potato carvings and then cast in bronze. This edition has been cast posthumously by the Duldig studio in Melbourne in 2015 which is managed by the artist's daughter Eva de Jong-Duldig.

Karl (Karol) Duldig (1902-1986) was born in Poland. In 1914 his family moved to Vienna, where his interest in sculpture led to study at the Kunstgewerbeschule (1921-25) and the Akademie der Bildenen Künste between 1925 and 1929. He subsequently graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and his work was critically acclaimed, being exhibited in Germany and Austria. Shortly before German troops entered Austria, the Duldig’s left for Switzerland, and then for Singapore. In September 1940 the Duldig family was deported to Australia as ‘enemy aliens’ and interned at Tatura camp, Victoria. [see: Peers, J., ‘Duldig, Karl (Karol) (1902–1986)’.