Group of Six Photographs of Clark Gable from the Set of the Misfits, 1960, by EVE ARNOLD (American, b. 1913)

EVE ARNOLD (American, b. 1913)
Group of Eight Photographs of Clark Gable from the Set of the Misfits, 1960
Gelatin silver, 1960
Paper: 6 x 4-1/4 inches (15.2 x 10.8 cm)
Image: various dimensions
Verso: Eve Arnold Magnum Stamp

Arnold, Eve:Attended Alexei Brodovitch's six-week course in photography at the New School for Social Research in New York in 1948. She becasme associated with Magnum in 1951 and became a full member in 1955, the first woman to be accepted in the organization. Although she started out using a 2 1/4 Rollie, she soon chose the Nikon 35mm as her tool as Leica's were difficult to find after WW2. Her method was to have a much personal contact with the subject as possible, shooting in an unobstrusive way and using natural light. According to Caryn E. Neumann in the Encyclopedia of 20th Century Photography, Routledge, 2006, on film sets, Arnold often went barefoot as "to not draw the attention of her subjects and would stop photographing if noticed."

In 1960 Arnold had six sessions with Marylin Monroe while she was shooting the Misfits. It is this series that have come to be most recognizable of Arnold's work. She was one of the few female photographers working with Monroe and her images reveal Monroe's vulnerability and show her at work, rather than as a sexual icon.

Arnold was employed by The London Sunday Times from 1961 to 1971, moving to London in 1962. Although Arnold wanted to cover the Vietnam War, her editor refused to send her. Arnold has had major exhibitions throughout the world and has published twelve books. She has received many awards and honorary degrees for her work.

Acknowledgment: Heritage Auctions