Yousuf Karsh: Regarding Heroes August 19, 2010

The Fisher Museum marks the centenary of one of greatest portraitists in the history of photography.

It may be said that, through his portraits, Karsh helped to create our collective visual memory of Winston Churchill, Marian Anderson, Albert Schweitzer, Ernest Hemingway, Albert Einstein and many others.

Yousuf Karsh learned photographic portraiture in the late 1920s the way 19th century practitioners had: as an apprentice. His concern for the sitter’s character and worth, along with his exquisite manners, brought him modest success first in a studio in Ottawa, Canada, which he operated from 1932 to 1992. Having become the favorite photographer of Canadian politicians, he was asked in December 1941 to photograph Winston Churchill after one of the prime minister’s most famous speeches. That defiant, scowling portrait became an instant icon of Britain’s stand against fascism. From that time on, Karsh became internationally renowned, and a long list of statesmen, artists, musicians, writers, actors and celebrities were drawn to sit before his camera.

Related Events:

September 30, 7:30 p.m.
Yousuf Karsh: The Hero of a Thousand Faces Through Words and Music
USC Fisher Museum of Art
http://web-app.usc.edu/ws/eo2/calendar/32/event/877495

November 4, 12:00 p.m.
Karsh Is History: Yousuf Karsh and Portrait Photography
USC Fisher Museum of Art
http://web-app.usc.edu/ws/eo2/calendar/32/event/877845