Winston Churchill

© Karsh / Camera Press

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Winston Churchill

by Yousuf Karsh
bromide print, 1941
23 3/4 in. x 19 3/4 in. (604 mm x 503 mm)
Given by the estate of Yousuf Karsh, 2010
Primary Collection
NPG P1368

On display in Room 27 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Yousuf Karsh (1908-2002), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 159 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Karsh photographed Churchill on a visit to the Canadian House of Commons in 1941, when Britain was fighting for survival. Karsh boldly snatched away Churchill's cigar. 'By the time I got back to my camera,' he later recalled, 'he looked so belligerent he could have devoured me.' Known as the 'roaring lion', this image became a symbol of British defiance and is one of the best-known photographs of Churchill.

Related worksback to top

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Black, Jonathan, 1969-, Winston Churchill in British art, 1900 to the present day : the titan with many faces., 2017, p. 107
  • Rab MacGibbon, National Portrait Gallery: The Collection, p. 85
  • Schama, Simon, The Face of Britain: The Nation Through its Portraits, 2015-09-15, p. 119

Placesback to top

  • Place made: Canada (Canadian House of Commons, Ottawa, Canada)

Events of 1941back to top

Current affairs

The Blitz continues with sustained Luftwaffe attacks on British cities. As the bombing went on the urban population got used to the black out, the air raid sirens and nights spent in shelter. The idea emerged (to some extent a myth) of the 'spirit of the Blitz' where people pulled together united, disregarding traditional class and social divisions.

Art and science

Frank Whittle demonstrates the first test-flight of a plane powered by jet propulsion. Although the German, Hans von Ohain, built the first jet plane, Whittle was the first to patent a design for the jet engine (in 1930), and his subsequent work helped to advance the technology and made Britain leaders in the field.

International

The Soviet Union and America join the Allies. The Soviet Union was forced to switch sides after Hitler attacked in June 1941, reneging the Soviet-Nazi pact. Six months later the US Navy was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbour. The following day the USA declared war on Japan, and three days later Germany and Italy declared war on America.

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