Lot description
Yousuf Karsh [Ottawa, Canada], ca. 1980s Yousuf Karsh (22) Large Scale Mounted Photographs for 1988 London Exhibition, One Signed! Ex. Karsh Estate Archive A collection of 22 large silver gelatin prints by Armenian-Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh (1908-2002), retained in his personal collection. Each measuring 19.5" x 23.5", these images had been - by Karsh's direction - specially reduced in sized and mounted on stiff board for the traveling 1988 retrospective exhibition at London's Barbican Gallery, which coincided with his 80th birthday. Highlighted subjects include Jacqueline Kennedy, Grace Kelly, Jean Cocteau, Bernard Montgomery, and Alberto Giacometti, the latter of which has been signed in the lower left as "Karsh". Undoubtedly printed by the photographer in his Ottawa studio in the mid-late 1980s. Exhibits minor surface defects and corner wear throughout, as expected. Otherwise, very well preserved. Accompanied by an official label of provenance and Estrellita Karsh Estate Certificate of Authenticity. These photographs were produced for Karsh's 80th birthday exhibition at the Barbican in London, organized by the International Center for Photography (ICP) and sponsored by Merrill Lynch. It displayed over 150 of the photographer's most notable subjects, including the famous 'Roaring Lion' portrait of Winston Churchill. Upon leaving the Barbican Gallery, the exhibition moved to Paris where it would be shown at the Palais de Tokyo. Due to its popularity, the ICP decided that the material would continue to travel across Europe, sometimes in smaller-scale venues. It was at this point when some photographs were evidently cut down to accommodate plastic cube frames, commonly used for easy shipping and installation. Karsh Estate Provenance: Held by the Estate of Yousuf & Estrellita Karsh; after Yousuf's death in 2002 passing to Estrellita Karsh; after Estrellita's death in March 2025 passing to Katherine Getchell, Co-Executor, Estrellita Karsh Estate and Personal Representative of Estrellita Karsh. Consisting of the following images: - Dr. Bruno Walter (1956) - Yukio Ozaki (1950) - Edward Steichen smoking cigar (1965) - Edward and Joanna Steichen in boat (1967) - Linus Pauling (1970) - Kiri Te Kanawa (1987) - Kurt Weill (1946) - Bernard Montgomery in uniform (1946) - Viscount Alexander (1946) - Madame Marguerite Yourcenar smiling (1987) - Madame Marguerite Yourcenar, neutral expression (1987) - Arthur Michael Ramsey, Baron Ramsey of Canterbury (1964) - Princess Grace of Monaco (1956) - Ossip Zadkine (1965) - Carl Jung (1958) - Konrad Adenauer (1964) - Max Ernst (1965) - Jean Cocteau (1949) - Albert Schweitzer (1954) - Alberto Giacometti (1965), signed by Karsh in the lower left - Norman Mailer (1974) - Jacqueline Kennedy (1957) Yousuf Karsh (1908–2002) is recognized as one of the leading photographers of the twentieth century. Arriving in Canada in 1924 as an Armenian refugee, Karsh eventually settled in Ottawa. Over six decades, he mastered the art of portraiture and created a unique chronicle of his time through images of celebrated legends. Some of his most notable subjects include Winston Churchill, Audrey Hepburn, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Ernest Hemingway, among others. A celebrity in his own right, he was an elegant and charming public figure, captivating audiences with compelling stories told in images and words. Karsh sought to capture, as he put it, the "elusive moment of truth," revealing the essential nature of his subjects as reflected in their eyes, hands, and attitudes. Please see our Terms and Conditions regarding large lots. This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses. WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!