Yusuf Karsh: biography of the great portraitist of the XX century, creativity and interesting facts

The great photo-portraitist Yusuf Karsh said that the meaning of photography, as well as the meaning of life, is one word, and the word is Light. He was considered wise, and he simply did his job. He photographed such great personalities as Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Nelson Mandela. His fascinating photo portraits "breathe" by the characters of the people sealed.

Yusuf Karsh: biography

Southeast Turkey, a place that residents call "Biblical Paradise". In the ancient city of Mardin, where houses are reminiscent of the eastern fairy tale, where fruit trees grow in abundance, where people of different faiths live peacefully for centuries, in 1908 Yusuf Karsh was born on December 23.

But soon the idyll came to an end. In 1915, the persecution of Armenian Christians turned into a terrible phenomenon - genocide. Yusuf survived the execution of two uncles, the death of his sister from typhus and parting with his father, who was forced to serve in the Turkish army. The authorities confiscated all property, including the house. The family was given only one donkey and ordered to leave their native Mardin forever.

A new home of Karshi was found in Syria, but parents wanted a better life for their son. It was decided that the child would emigrate to the United States in all ways. But it became known that the quota for Armenians had been exhausted, and the boy was sent to Canada to his uncle.

The first 4 million dollars

16-year-old Yusuf Karsh went to the shore of Halifax on the eve of 1925. George Nakash greeted his nephew in his native language. Later in his book of memoirs, he will write that these words were the only thing that was familiar in a world alien to him.

From the port they left on a sleigh drawn by horses. On their harness hanging bells, which rang loudly, and people were so happy that their joy intoxicated the young man.

As a refuge from the problems was the snow-covered city of Sherbrooke, where George Nakash lived. There were no soldiers with machine guns, there was no poverty, disease and persecution. Despite the oriental appearance, even classmates took the guy with warmth and, not to suffer from memorizing a foreign name, called him Joe. Yusuf began to learn a new language, get used to a new climate and build a new life.

Fortunately, all that had to be experienced in Mardin did not embitter Yusuf, he absorbed tolerance to others with his mother's milk. The father always said to his son: "If it's hard to restrain yourself, throw a stone at the offender, but miss it."

After six months of life in Canada, the guy starts working in his uncle's photo studio. George gave his nephew the simplest camera, and Yusuf began to shoot everything around.

One of the classmates secretly sent a picture to the contest - he took the prize. The boy handed Karsha 50 dollars. Yusuf gave $ 10 to his classmate, and sent the rest of the money to his parents. Later, he admits that at that time these 40 dollars seemed to him 4 million. And he walked happy for several weeks, proud of his deed.

Boston. John Garo

Talent nephew did not leave indifferent uncle, and George decides to send Yusuf to the famous John Garo. The fashion photographer was part of the Armenian Diaspora and gladly accepted the new student. On Boylston Street, the guy studied the printing processes and photography features.

He watched as Garo conducts dialogues with those whom he removes; Visited museums and art classes. His favorite place was the library and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

In Garo's studio the whole elite gathered, a young photographer learned to communicate with celebrities. The six-month internship lasted for 2 years, after which he returned to Sherbrooke. At first he was an assistant to his uncle, then worked as an assistant to John Povis, who later left him his studio.

Yusuf Karsh began his independent career in 1933. He had everything except connections, money, clients and reputation. Despite the fact that he was able to talk with anyone regardless of his status and possessed a photographic talent, due to the Great Depression, he had to lend small sums several times to support his own business.

A guide to the new future was the acquaintance with the theater of Ottawa, where he met his future wife, emigrant from France - Solange Gauthier.

A new beginning

After 6 years in 1939 they were married. Despite the fact that the girl was older than Yusuf for 6 years, they were an ideal couple. Both Canadian in the first generation dreamed of being accepted into a higher society, but at the same time not forgetting their roots and traditions.

Solange had a good business sense, so she became an administrator in her husband's photo studio. Yusuf Karsh began to photograph the productions, actors; His pictures began to be published in British magazines and prestigious local newspapers.

Career began to develop rapidly, he took family photos, portraits, of course, photographed his beloved Solange.

A case that changed life: a story with a cigar

According to the memories of his wife Karsh, that day he returned home in a strange state. Yusuf trembled all over, and she barely managed to find out what had happened. And he just wanted to make a good portrait.

It is not known whether Churchill was unhappy or forgot about the upcoming shooting, but he gave the process only 2 minutes and began to smoke a cigar. The guy tried to hint to him that she would not make the frame solemn and did not add dignity, but Winston did not imbued with what Yusuf Karsh told him. The photographer decided to take a desperate step, he yanked out a cigar, rushed to his camera and made a picture of the politician who had been outraged.

However, Churchill liked his impudence, and he allowed to take a few more pictures, but already smiling.

This picture has become very popular. Despite the fact that for him he received $ 100, it was this photo session that brought him fame.

Portrait of Greatness

In 1943, Karshi made a trip to England, where he made more than 40 portraits of the military. After the Second World War he collaborated with the magazine "Life", for which he shot celebrities.

Thanks to his connections and fame, Yusuf Karsh in 1948 was able to transport a family from Aleppo to Canada. Calmed down for their fate, he completely immersed himself in the work. For 10 years of hard work, he made the best portraits, and in 1958 he was included in the list of 10 of the world's greatest photographers.

The greatest portraits of Yusuf Karsh

See through the people and be able to demonstrate this to others - that's what his talent was.

She was selected from the composition of the ballet group to play the role of Gigi. When Yusuf photographed Hepburn, he noted her subtle sensitivity, to which Audrey spoke about her life during the Second World War. A few years later, the Kremlin allows Karsh to make a portrait of Brezhnev, but with one condition: the photo should be as beautiful as hers.

He also photographed Ernest Hemingway. According to Yusuf, he expected to see one of the heroes of his novel, but met with him in 1957, noticed a kind of tenderness in Ernest. Such timid people he had not photographed yet - the man was severely beaten by life, but at the same time invincible.

The Star of Hope

In 1959, he suffered a heart attack. Taking care of her husband, Solange did not dare to talk about her own illness - the doctors discovered cancer. She died in 1961 and was unable to complete her work on the biography of Yusuf.

From the pain of loss, his work saved him again. In his childhood, the photographer dreamed of becoming a doctor, and the illness of his wife brought him close to medicine. He began to shoot patients and doctors. Soon he became acquainted with the medical editor Estrellita Nachbar, who became his wife, friend, assistant and teacher.

In 1992, he decides to close the studio in Ottawa and ceases to deal with commercial orders. After 5 years, he and his wife moved to Boston and settled near the Museum of Fine Arts. In 2000, the publication Who's Who, where portraits of 100 significant people of the century were presented. 51 photos for this encyclopedia made by Yusuf Karsh.

The work of the photographer after her husband's death (July 13, 2002), Estrellita transferred to Boston hospitals.

These portraits were made by a person who could so act on people that they wanted to showcase their best part and share it with others. That is why these pictures were hung in the wards of those who needed support, and not the oppression of the bare walls of the hospital.