Object Details
- Artist
- Yousuf Karsh, 23 Dec 1908 - 13 Jul 2002
- Sitter
- Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, 11 Oct 1884 - 7 Nov 1962
- Exhibition Label
- Eleanor Roosevelt’s life changed radically when her husband (and distant cousin) Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected to the presidency in 1932. His mobility had been limited since 1921, when he had contracted polio at the age of thirty-nine. Consequently, as first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt often made public appearances in his stead. At the height of the Great Depression, she traveled widely to assess federal relief programs, and during World War II, she flew around the world visiting troops in his place.
- When photographer Yousuf Karsh made this portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt, she was already the longest serving first lady, having lived in the White House for over a decade. She is pictured here with a pencil in hand, an allusion to her work as a journalist.
- Indeed, she penned over eight thousand columns for her syndicated newspaper feature, wrote twenty-seven books, and had her own radio show.
- La vida de Eleanor Roosevelt cambió drásticamente cuando su esposo (y primo lejano) Franklin Delano Roosevelt fue electo presidente en 1932. Él tenía dificultades de movimiento desde 1921, cuando contrajo poliomielitis a la edad de 39 años. Por lo tanto, como primera dama, ella lo sustituía a menudo en funciones públicas. En medio de la Gran Depresión, viajó extensamente para evaluar los programas de ayuda federal, y durante la 2da Guerra Mundial recorrió el mundo visitando a las tropas en nombre del presidente.
- Cuando el fotógrafo Yousuf Karsh tomó este retrato, Eleanor Roosevelt era ya la primera dama con más tiempo en funciones, habiendo vivido en la Casa Blanca más de una década. Aquí aparece lápiz en mano, en alusión a su trabajo de periodista. En efecto, escribió 27 libros y más de 8,000 columnas para su sección sindicada en la prensa, y tuvo su propio programa de radio.
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Estrellita Karsh in memory of Yousuf Karsh
- 1944
- Object number
- NPG.2012.77.89
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Copyright
- © Estate of Yousuf Karsh
- Type
- Photograph
- Medium
- Gelatin silver print
- Dimensions
- Image: 31.5 × 25.5 cm (12 3/8 × 10 1/16")
- Sheet: 42.8 × 35.5 cm (16 7/8 × 14")
- Mount: 48.3 × 40.6 cm (19 × 16")
- Mat (Karsh exhibit): 71.1 × 55.9 cm (28 × 22")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Costume\Jewelry\Necklace\Pearl
- Costume\Jewelry\Ring
- Equipment\Drafting & Writing Implements\Writing implement\Pencil
- Anna Eleanor Roosevelt: Female
- Anna Eleanor Roosevelt: Arts and Culture\Literature\Writer
- Anna Eleanor Roosevelt: Arts and Culture\Education and Scholarship\Educator\Lecturer
- Anna Eleanor Roosevelt: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Activist
- Anna Eleanor Roosevelt: Politics and Government\First Lady\First Lady of US
- Anna Eleanor Roosevelt: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Humanitarian
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.2012.77.89
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4dc58b1e3-7eea-44eb-9bf5-d692eaf564ea
