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43 22 Yousuf Karsh, Winston Churchill, 1941 Signed and inscribed 'Ottawa' Silver gelatin print, printed 1950s, 19 1/8 x 15 1/4 inches Churchill visited the Canadian government to make a speech on 30 December 1941. Karsh achieved Churchill's solemn expression by taking away his newly lit cigar. The resulting, thunderous face was subsequently interpreted as British fortitude in the face of the Nazi threat in Europe. This portrait remains one of Karsh's most significant, and brought him international prominence. It was also his first portrait to possess the iconic 'Karsh of Ottawa' copyright. Born on 23 December 1908 in Mardin, Turkey, Yousuf Karsh became one of the most significant portrait photographers of the twentieth century. After the Armenian Genocide, Karsh's parents sent him to Quebec, Canada, in 1924 to stay with his uncle, George Nakash, who worked as a photographer. By assisting his uncle during his free time from school, Karsh developed his own taste for photography – also gaining experience as an apprentice with portrait photographer, John Garo. In 1932, Karsh set up his own photographic studio in Ottawa, close to the Canadian government buildings. This location allowed Karsh to undertake official government portraits. Indeed, the Prime Minister himself soon commissioned Karsh to take portraits of dignitaries that visited Canada, one of whom was Winston Churchill. Karsh's portrait of Churchill has become one of the most reproduced portraits in the history of photography. As he grew in renown, Karsh's singular style – particularly the use of dramatic lighting – made him irresistible to a vast number of the twentieth century's celebrities, from Audrey Hepburn to Fidel Castro. Karsh's photographs are held in galleries and museums worldwide, and he published over fifteen books of his iconic portraits. During his career, Karsh received numerous awards, including the Medal of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (1975) and the Companion of the Order of Canada (1990), as well as obtaining over 24 honorary degrees. Karsh died in Boston aged 93 on 13 July in 2002. Yousuf Karsh 1908-2002