The Roaring Lion

The Roaring Lion is a famous photographic portrait of a 67-year-old Winston Churchill as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The portrait was taken in 1941 by Armenian-Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh in the Centre Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.[1]

The Roaring Lion
Winston Churchill
Artist	Yousuf Karsh
Year	30 December 1941
Medium	Photograph
Dimensions	30.8 cm (12.1 in) × 24.0 cm (9.4 in)
Location	Ottawa, Canada
Collection	Library and Archives Canada, National Portrait Gallery
Accession No.	MIKAN 3915740

The photograph was shot on December 30, 1941, in the chamber of the Canadian Speaker of the House of Commons at the Parliament in Ottawa after Churchill delivered a speech on World War II to the Canadian members of parliament. It was arranged by the Canadian prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King.

Churchill is particularly noted for his posture and facial expression, which have been compared to the wartime feelings that prevailed in the UK – persistence in the face of an all-conquering enemy. The photo session was short and, just before exposure, Karsh asked the prime minister to put down his cigar, as the smoke would interfere with the image. Churchill refused, so just before taking the photograph, Karsh took the cigar from his lips. According to Karsh, "He looked so belligerent, he could have devoured me." His scowl has been compared to "a fierce glare as if confronting the enemy".[2]

USC Fisher Museum of Art described it as a "defiant and scowling portrait [which] became an instant icon of Britain's stand against fascism."[3]

It appeared on the cover of the May 21, 1945, issue of Life,[4] which bought it for $100. It now hangs on the wall of the chambers of the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, where it was first taken.