Vladimir Horowitz (1903-1989) was a Russian and American pianist. Considered one of the greatest pianists of all time, he was known for his virtuoso technique, timbre, and, according to his biographer, the public excitement engendered by his playing. Horowitz was photographed by Karsh in 1946 for “J. Walter Thompson RCA”: in the 1940s, the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency handled corporate advertising for the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). In 1945 and ’46 Karsh made portraits of about a dozen luminaries for this project, including Marian Anderson, Yehudi Menuhin, and Wanda Landowska.

This portrait of Vladimir Horowitz has been freshly added to the website.