Yousuf
Karsh opened his own portrait studio in Ottawa, in 1932,
having
first been introduced to photography by his uncle more than a decade earlier.
From the start, Karsh's abilities earned him a reputation for excellence in the
larger-than-life style of portraiture, which is well suited to a clientele who
could best be described as "people of consequence." His images are
highly formal in nature; the sculptural monumentality inherent in his
portrayals is achieved by adept lighting and staging techniques which in effect
chisel the sitter in bas-relief out of an invariably unpretentious background. Even
though Karsh goes to great lengths to photograph his clients in their own
surroundings rather than in his studio, this practice is more for their
convenience than to provide contextual or environmental information.

Line
rather than substance defines this evocative portrait of the eminent cellist,
Pablo Casals. The bend of Casals's shoulder as he draws the bow across his
instrument and the curve of his back silhouetted against the dimly lit wall
before him are visual equivalents to the soulful musical strains of the cello.