Portrait in Light and Shadow: The Life of Yousuf Karsh by Maria Tippett

Overview

Portrait in Light and Shadow: The Life of Yousuf Karsh is a biography of the renowned portrait photographer Yousuf Karsh, written by Maria Tippett. Karsh was a renowned photographer who took some of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century, including portraits of Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy, Ernest Hemingway, and many more. Karsh’s photographs have become an integral part of our visual history, and Maria Tippett has brilliantly captured his life and career in this beautifully illustrated and well-researched biography.

Background

Yousuf Karsh was born in 1908 in Mardin, Ottoman Turkey, to a family of Armenian Catholics. At a young age, his family immigrated to Canada and settled in Sherbrooke, Quebec. From the age of 17, Karsh was already experimenting with photography and was the pupil of John Garo, a Boston-based photographer. After receiving Garo’s blessings, Karsh opened his own portrait studio in Ottawa, Canada in 1931.

By 1940, Karsh had already become well-known and was invited to London to take the famous portrait of Winston Churchill. This photograph helped launch Karsh’s career, and although he was initially met with criticism and was almost deported, his photo of Churchill went on to become one of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century.

Karsh went on to photograph some of the most influential figures of the century, such as Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy and Ernest Hemingway. Through his photography, Karsh sought to capture not just the celebrity of his subjects, but their uniqueness and individual character as well. Karsh’s work has been exhibited in some of the world’s most prestigious galleries and his photographs remain a part of our visual history to this day.

Summary

In Portrait in Light and Shadow, Maria Tippett vividly captures the life and career of Yousuf Karsh. Through photographs, illustrations and in-depth research, she provides readers with an insight into Karsh’s experiences and the people he photographed.

The book begins by providing background into Karsh’s life and how he got his start as a portrait photographer. It then details Karsh’s rise to fame and how he was invited to photograph some of the most renowned figures of the century. Tippett goes on to discuss the style of Karsh’s photography and how he sought to capture the individual character of his subjects, rather than just their public faces.

The book also provides an insight into Karsh’s personal life, particularly his relationship with his wife Solange Gauthier and the difficulties they faced. She also provides a summary of Karsh’s later years, detailing his passion for teaching and his dedication to preserving his photography legacy.

Conclusion

Portrait in Light and Shadow: The Life of Yousuf Karsh is an exceptional work that shines an in-depth light on Yousuf Karsh’s life and work. The book takes readers on a journey through his life, from his early years in Ottoman Turkey to the post-war period in Canada. Maria Tippett’s wonderfully illustrated and well-researched biography provides readers with an insight into Karsh’s world and makes for an engaging and informative read.