Additional Images

Provenance:

Estate of Al Gilbert, Toronto, ON

Note:

Yousuf Karsh was an Armenian-Canadian photographer known for his portraits of famous individuals, including politicians, actors, and artists. His photographs were characterized by their use of dramatic lighting and careful composition, which captured the personality and character of his subjects.

Karsh was born in Mardin, Ottoman Empire (now in Turkey) in 1908. In 1924, he immigrated to Canada with his family and began his career in photography. He worked as an apprentice to his uncle, George Nakash, in his studio in Sherbrooke, Quebec, and later moved to Boston to work as an assistant to the photographer John Garo. His breakthrough came in 1941 when he was asked to photograph the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during a visit to Ottawa. Karsh famously captured Churchill's scowl and created an iconic portrait that is still widely recognized today.

Karsh's photographic practice was characterized by his use of dramatic lighting and careful composition to capture the personality and character of his subjects. He believed that a portrait should be more than just a representation of the physical appearance of a person, but should also convey their inner spirit and character.

To achieve this, Karsh used a variety of lighting techniques, including strong directional lighting and chiaroscuro effects, to create a dramatic and striking portrait. He also carefully posed his subjects and paid close attention to their facial expressions and body language, often engaging them in conversation to put them at ease and capture a more natural expression.

Karsh's impact on the world of photography was profound, and his portraits are still widely admired today. His approach to photography, which emphasized the importance of capturing the personality and character of his subjects, has had a lasting influence on the development of portrait photography.