Skip to main content
Menu

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.

George Molnar

1983
Judy Cassab AO CBE

oil on canvas laid on masonite (frame: 115.0 cm x 98.0 cm, support: 106.0 cm x 93.0 cm)

George Molnar AO OBE (1910–1998), cartoonist, artist, architect and social commentator, was born in Hungary and studied architecture at Budapest University, graduating in 1932. He came to Australia as a sponsored migrant in 1939, initially working in Canberra as a government architect before joining the architecture faculty at the University of Sydney. By this time, his cartoons had started appearing in the Daily Telegraph and other publications. In 1954, he joined the Sydney Morning Herald, remaining one of its primary cartoonists for the next 30 years, his work often addressing topics such as urban planning, art, taste and censorship, as well as politics and other social issues. In addition, he published books of his cartoons, held exhibitions of his watercolours and gave public lectures on architecture and sustainable development. In 1967, he took up a role at the University of New South Wales, working there as an Associate Professor of Architecture until his retirement from teaching in 1975. Awarded an OBE in 1971 and an AO in 1988, on his death in 1998 Molnar was described as ‘a cultured man whose wit was as elegant as his art’.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2013
© Judy Cassab/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

Judy Cassab AO CBE (age 63 in 1983)

George Molnar AO OBE (age 73 in 1983)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
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