Yousuf Karsh, master photographer of the 20th century
1954
“‘He will never be here,’ the gallery owner commented, when my assistant and two hundred pounds of equipment arrived. ‘He says the same thing to every photographer.’ To everyone’s amazement, the ‘old lion’ not only kept his photographic appointment with me but was prompt and wore a new shirt.”
During his career he held 15,312 sittings, produced over 370,000 negatives, and left an indelible artistic and historic record of the men and women who shaped the twentieth century.
Yousuf Karsh’s (1908-2002) extraordinary and unique body of work presents the viewer with an intimate and compassionate view of humanity.
The Bank of England chose Winston Churchill by Yousuf Karsh to appear on the front of its all-new polymer banknote, now in circulation across the UK.
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