Karl (Karol) Duldig was a Jewish modernist sculptor. He was born in Przemyśl (Premissl), Poland then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire due to annexation, and later moved to Vienna. Following the Anschluss in August 1938 he left Vienna and travelled to Switzerland where he was later joined by his wife Slawa Horowitz Duldig and his daughter Eva Duldig. In 1939 they travelled to Singapore – from where they were later deported, and were sent to Australia – where for two years he and his family were interned as enemy aliens. As a sculptor, he often used a minimalist style, won the 1956 Victorian Sculptor of the Year Award, and had an annual lecture established in his name by the National Gallery of Victoria.

Although most Australian civilians lived far from the front line, the Australian home front during World War II played a significant role in the Allied victory and led to permanent changes to Australian society.