FINE ORIGINAL YOUSUF KARSH PORTRAIT OF GENERAL SMUTS SIGNED BY SMUTS

A magnificent large portrait of General Smuts in military atire by famous photograper Yousuf Karsh taken at a sitting on September 12th. 1943. The image measures 345 x 268mm. and with the margins, the entire piece measures 392 x 295mm. The photograph has been laid down on to cardboard. Signed by Smuts on a light portion of the image (his hand) and with photographers signature and copyright mark in white at the lower left corner of the image. 

In fine condition. A couple of minor marks at the extreme edge of one border not affecting the image at all. Very suitable for framing. 

I have been in touch with the Karsh estate to confirm the authenticity of this print.

Yousuf Karsh (December 23, 1908 – July 13, 2002), was an Armenian Canadian photographer known for his portraits of notable individuals. He has been described as one of the greatest portrait photographers of the 20th century. An Armenian Genocide survivor, Karsh emigrated to Canada as a refugee. By the 1930s he had established himself as a significant photographer in Ottawa, where he lived most of his adult life, although he travelled extensively for work. His iconic 1941 photograph of Winston Churchill was a breakthrough point in his 60-year career, through which he took numerous photos of known political leaders, men and women of arts and sciences. Over 20 photos by Karsh have appeared on the cover of Life magazine, until he retired in 1992. During his career he held 15,312 sittings, produced over 250,000 negatives, and left an indelible artistic and historic record of the men and women who shaped the twentieth century. Karsh’s portraits of many of those who sat before his camera are the definitive images that we remember. The Bank of England chose Winston Churchill by Yousuf Karsh to appear on the front of its all-new polymer banknote, which is now in circulation across the United Kingdom.