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Yousuf Karsh – The Roaring Lion (1941)
Shot on December 30 1941 in the Speaker’s Chamber of the Canadian House of Commons in Ottawa, Armenian-Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh’s portrait perfectly encapsulates British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill’s defiant and bullish temperament.
Following The Blitz (a concerted Nazi bombing campaign against the United Kingdom in 1940 and 1941), Churchill’s defiant scowl is a reflection of the UK’s perseverance in the face of an all-conquering enemy. However, it might also have been because he was denied his trusty companion – his cigar.
Churchill refused to put down his cigar for the portrait, so Karsh quickly took it from his mouth and said “forgive me sir”. Karsh said, “by the time I got back to the camera, he looked so belligerent, he could have devoured me”. Churchill later commented, “You can even make a roaring lion stand still to be photographed,” giving the picture its proud name.
Shot on December 30 1941 in the Speaker’s Chamber of the Canadian House of Commons in Ottawa, Armenian-Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh’s portrait perfectly encapsulates British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill’s defiant and bullish temperament.
Following The Blitz (a concerted Nazi bombing campaign against the United Kingdom in 1940 and 1941), Churchill’s defiant scowl is a reflection of the UK’s perseverance in the face of an all-conquering enemy. However, it might also have been because he was denied his trusty companion – his cigar.
Churchill refused to put down his cigar for the portrait, so Karsh quickly took it from his mouth and said “forgive me sir”. Karsh said, “by the time I got back to the camera, he looked so belligerent, he could have devoured me”. Churchill later commented, “You can even make a roaring lion stand still to be photographed,” giving the picture its proud name.
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