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HISTORY: Yousuf Karsh, CC RCA FRPS (December 23, 1908 – July 13, 2002) was a Canadian-Armenian 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 migrated to Canada as a refugee. By the 1930s he established himself as a significant photographer in Ottawa, where he lived most of his adult life, though he traveled 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 appeared on the cover of Life magazine, until he retired in 1993.
In 1970 Karsh photographed Muhammad Ali for Look Magazine.
“I photographed (Ali) in 1970, as part of a series of young people for ‘Look’ Magazine… Muhammad Ali arrived at my New York studio with a breathless young editor trailing behind. They had jogged together from the ‘Look’ offices, the young editor carrying Ali’s heavy portable telephone which Ali said kept him in ‘constant contact with the world.’ Since the editor was a slight young man, I smiled to myself as I imagined this improbable duo and the incredulous stares of the passers-by as they made their way up Madison Avenue. ‘The Greatest’ and I talked about his triumphs, about patent medicine, about the commercials he was making, but there was for me no real contact. The pinstriped suit he wore for our sitting was chosen not for business but to command the respect he rightly felt he deserved.”-Yousuf Karsh
Karsh's comments on Ali: 'Probably no other person I have photographed has been subjected to so many years of such open hatred as Muhammad Ali—hatred because he was born black in the American South; hatred because of the arrogance which is one of his weapons; hatred because he was unafraid to take unpopular stands…and hatred because, despite all this, he remained the fastest-moving, as well as the fastest-talking, heavyweight boxer in history.'
Offered here is an original, first generation photograph of Muhammad Ali done in 1970 by Yousuf Karsh which has been boldly signed by Muhammad Ali. Authenticated by PSA/DNA.
FULL DESCRIPTION: This is an original, first generation studio portrait of Muhammad Ali in period dress. Boldly signed in silver pen, "Muhammad Ali." Bold, clear image. Clean with no staining. Not creased or torn. Professionally framed and matted. Photograph is 14 3/4" x 19 1/2." Authenticated by PSA/DNA.
Magnificent oversized semi-glossy 14.75 x 19 1/2 ‘Type 1’ silver gelatin photo of Muhammad Ali by acclaimed portrait photographer Yousuf Karsh, depicting the legendary boxing champion in a half-length pose wearing a pinstripe suit with his arms akimbo, signed nicely over his shoulder in silver ink, “Muhammad Ali.” Handsomely double-matted and framed to an overall size of 22.5 x 26.5. In fine condition. Authenticated by PSA/DNA with their full letter with cert # AJ03802.