Yousuf Karsh (1908–2002), an Armenian-Canadian master portraitist, is widely regarded as one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century for his ability to capture the inner essence of history's most influential figures through dramatic lighting, psychological insight, and timeless dignity.
Born in Mardin, Ottoman Empire (now Turkey), amid the Armenian Genocide, Karsh survived persecution and fled with his family to Syria before emigrating to Canada as a refugee in 1923 at age 14. Settling in Quebec with his uncle, a photographer, he apprenticed in Sherbrooke and later Boston under John H. Garo, mastering the chiaroscuro techniques that defined his style—bold contrasts of light and shadow that sculpted character and emotion.
Opening his studio in Ottawa in 1932, Karsh became "Karsh of Ottawa," photographing dignitaries arranged by Prime Minister Mackenzie King. His 1941 portrait of Winston Churchill—snapping the cigar from the leader's mouth to provoke the famous scowl—became the most reproduced photograph in history, propelling him to global fame and gracing over 20 Life magazine covers.
His subjects spanned statesmen (Eisenhower, Khrushchev), artists (Picasso, O'Keeffe), scientists (Einstein), and icons (Hemingway, Hepburn), revealing hidden depths in a fraction of a second.
Karsh's humanistic vision and technical brilliance created an indelible visual record of the century's giants, influencing portrait photography's emphasis on character over mere likeness and earning him enduring acclaim in major collections worldwide.