1983 Yousuf Karsh: A Fifty-Year Retrospective Winston Churchill Roaring Lion

Date: 1968
Artist: Karsh, Yousef   
Size (in): 35.5” x 24.5”
Size (cm): 90.2 x 62.2
Condition: B
Linen backed: No 

This is a vintage original poster issued by Little, Brown and Company to promote the 1983 New York Graphic Society Book KARSH: A Fifty-Year Retrospective. This poster features the so called "Roaring Lion" portrait of Winston Churchill which was one of the most recognized and important portrait photos of Yousuf Karsh’s long and celebrated career.  

This photo was taken in 1941 when Winston Churchill was visiting Canada.  Karsh had a two-minute sitting with Churchill and asked politely if the Prime Minister would please put his cigar away just for a moment so that his photo could be taken. Churchill refused so just before taking the photo Karsh stepped forward and said “forgive me sir” while snatching the cigar from Churchill’s mouth. The image captured Churchill’s perturbed reaction to this brief encounter with Karsh but took on a much greater significance in perfectly capturing the wartime mood and Churchill’s resolute determination.          

This poster is a vintage original issued to advertising the NYGS’s 1983 book KARSH: A Fifty-Year Retrospective. The lower margin indicates “Printed by Meriden-Stinehour, inc.” and “Poster designed by Carl Zahn”.   This poster is free of tape or pinholes and shows moderate handling wear and some bumping to the edges in places.  There is a small nick and short tear of about an inch on the left edge not affecting the image area.  There is a small blemish in the margin on the right edge near the upper corner.  Overall condition is very good.