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 Karsh came to Canada from Armenia in 1932 and set up his own photography
business. His services came to be solicited by celebrities around the world and
his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was on all denominations of Canadian currency
from 1953 to 1974. His younger brother, Malak, also became a famous Canadian
photographer based in Ottawa. While Yousef specialized in portraits, Malak
specialized in landscapes and industrial stills. His picture of Parliament Hill
from the Ottawa River was displayed on the Canadian one dollar bill until the
bill was retired in 1987 (Ottawa Citizen, 2000, p 145).
Karsh’s portrait of Churchill is one of the most famous images of
the British Prime Minister. According to the story of that day,
Churchill was ushered in to the studio without having been fully
briefed that his picture was to be taken. He grudgingly consented to
the operation, and then, just before the shutter was clicked, had
the cigar plucked from his mouth by Karsh.
Hence, the now-famous scowl depicted in the portrait is the product
of something rather different than the solid determination for which
he is known. As he left the studio, he muttered something to the
effect that Karsh could make even a lion sit still and have its
picture taken (Ottawa Citizen, 2000, p. 138-9).
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