Yousuf Karsh Signed Winston S. Churchill Portrait.

KARSH, Yousuf. [Winston S. Churchill].

Item Number: 139477

Rare large format silver gelatin print of Karsh’s iconic portrait of Churchill, “The Roaring Lion” which in May 1941 was featured on the cover of Life magazine and brought Karsh international fame. Signed by Karsh “Y. Karsh.” In fine condition. Matted and framed. The photograph measures 21 inches by 17 inches. The entire piece measures 32 inches by 27 inches. An exceptional piece.

In 1935, Yousuf Karsh "was appointed official portrait photographer of the Canadian government and in 1941 achieved international fame with his portrait of Winston Churchill" (Cleveland Museum of Art, Catalogue of Photography, 444). Karsh later wrote: "As a private citizen I approached Winston Churchill in 1941 with awe. He was more that a Great Man of the twentieth century: he was even more than an institution. He has become, and always will remains, a gigantic passage in human history... He marched in scowling and regarded my camera as he might regard the German enemy. His expression suited me perfectly, if I could capture it, but the cigar thrust between his teeth seemed somehow incompatible with such a solemn, formal occasion. Instinctively, I removed the cigar. At this time the Churchillian scowl deepened, the head was thrust forward belligerently, and the hand placed on the hip in an attitude of anger. So he stands in my portrait in what always seemed to me the image of England in those years, defiant and unconquerable (Karsh Portfolio, 34). Churchill later said to Karsh, “You can even make a roaring lion stand still to be photographed,” which led Karsh to name the portrait “The Roaring Lion.”