Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, California, 2010

In celebration of the 100th birthday of renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh (1908-2002), the Los Angeles Public Library and Library Foundation of Los Angeles are hosting an exhibition of the great portraitist's work. The selected images offer a visual biography of this twentieth-century legend.

Karsh made a career photographing the world's most distinguished statesmen, artists, literary figures, musicians, scientists, actors, and actresses. Traveling the globe, he gained access to virtually every great figure of his time. Among his most famous iconic images are the ones he made of Winston Churchill (1941), Albert Einstein (1948), Pablo Picasso (1954), Ernest Hemingway (1957), Jacqueline Kennedy (1957) and Sophia Loren (1981).

This exhibition explores the eminent photographer's celebrated works alongside his lesser-known images. Included are photographs from his early years as he was developing his photographic style as well as works he made on assignment in the 1950s after he became widely known - views of Canada for Maclean's Magazine and images of industry for Ford of Canada and Atlas Steel. Archival material revealing Karsh's personality, his approach to his work, and the friendships he forged with sitters is also included, as well as prints from his large format camera.

This exhibition was organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.