Promotional Tour | 6A Small

A pioneer for female photojournalists, Eve Arnold is one of the most influential photojournalists of the 20th century. Expressing their very essence in each photograph, Arnold photographed her subjects in an intimate and informal manner.

A master of black and white and colour photography, Arnold’s photographs of Marilyn Monroe are some of her most famous works. The pair developed a deep sense of companionship throughout their decade-long friendship.

After an invite from Marilyn at four o’clock in the morning, Arnold joined the actress on a trip to Bement, Illinois, for a promotional tour celebrating the town’s centenary in 1955. The press had been warned of Monroe’s visit and, as Arnold describes it, ‘everybody wanted to see her, to talk to her, to get her autograph, to touch her’. The photographer was set on capturing not only the craziness that always surrounded Monroe but also glimpses of life behind the spotlight and her mood behind the scenes.

In this portrait shot, with soft colour and contrasting shadows, Marilyn appears to be lost in thought, embodying a nostalgic yet peaceful atmosphere while on the plane.

Fascinated by Monroe’s natural ability in front of a camera, Arnold captured the actress in a way no one else had, in her quiet and vulnerable moments. Arnold’s candid images exhibit the often-unseen side of Monroe, showing the softness and innocence of her authentic self. The photographs captured on The Misfits set are among the last ever taken of the famous actress.

In a career spanning six decades, Eve Arnold photographed people from all walks of life, from the Hollywood elite and political figures to manual labourers. With curiosity as her biggest driving force, Arnold showed incredible bravery throughout her career, putting her commitment to capturing reality above all else, making her photographs a part of history.

A holographic, silvered certificate with archive approved facsimile of Eve Arnold’s signature accompanies each numbered edition.

Each digital C-type print is produced from the original negative which has been scanned and then printed digitally using a process called Light Jet. This process is often used when an original negative is too fragile to print from directly when printing multiple images.

Arnold’s original negatives are retained by Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University.

Find out more about Arnold here or alternatively shop more art here.