Eve Arnold’s work has had much exposure over the last three decades with exhibitions, photographic sales and books. She’s almost become a star in her own right as she commands respect from her peers like few others. Even the truly great photographers count her among their favourites.
Eve’s method of working was to only keep the best shots and destroy the rest, which is unthinkable but has in turn given her an impeccable reputation with one of the greatest photographic legacies in history. She was one the first female members of the Magnum Photos agency in the 1950s (along with Inge Morath).She travelled extensively the world over with her camera, photographing in China, Russia, South Africa and Afghanistan. Eve often took risks, photographing the Klu Klux Klan, “sitting with the Imperial Wizard as he ranted against Blacks, Vietnamese, Jews, Catholics, homosexuals and women.”She has also photographed some of the most famous people of the age from Queen Elizabeth II to Malcolm X, but her most enduring works are those of Marilyn Monroe, particularly those of which were taken during the shooting of The Misfits.
Eve first met Marilyn at a party thrown by John Huston, when both were fledglings in their chosen careers and their working association started with an assignment for Esquire in 1952, and over the next ten years the two women became firm friends working together six times in total including a two month long shoot for The Misfits in 1960, when Marilyn requested Eve be her personal photographer during that difficult filming.In the most recent edition of Eve’s book we see many new shots among the classic images previously published in the 1987 book Marilyn: An Appreciation.
Eve captures many facets of Marilyn’s personality, at work and play. In a touching introduction actress Anjelica Huston writes: ‘Here are gentle portraits of a ravishing child-woman – feline, innocent, anxious, trusting, sad, sweet, passionate and funny….’While many photographers captured Marilyn’s obvious sexuality, Eve Arnold, the only woman to have photographed her extensively, managed to reveal not only Marilyn’s sexuality but her vulnerability, her humor and her amazing natural beauty.
Eve recently celebrated her 97th birthday and currently lives in Britain. She has just published her thirteenth book, Eve Arnold’s People.
By Fraser Penney
