Session for American Airlines on February 27, 1956.
What was Marilyn Monroe like behind the cameras? Did she have the same charisma outside of the Hollywood spotlight? Many photographers closely followed the most charismatic artist of the 20th century, portraitists of the stature of Bern Stern, Richard Avedon, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eve Arnold and Cecil Beaton, among others. But none came that close to what she really was like Milton H. Greene with whom she connected more and better.
Greene was one of the first and best photographers working in the early days of color photography, photographing not only Monroe but other great artists of the day such as Elizabeth TaylorFrank Sinatra Sammy Davis Jr. Audrey HepburnGrace Kelly , Dizzy Gillespie, Judy Garland or marlene dietrich , always managing to extract the most authentic face of her.
The irresistible photogenicity of Marilyn Monroe It made her an object of desire throughout the world, a supreme icon of pop culture and the society of the spectacle. Now we can get much closer to the figure of her in an exhibition organized by the Film Library of Catalonia.
'Marilyn Monroe by Milton H. Greene. The 50 sessions' presents a selection of 84 photographs of the actress belonging to 50 photo sessions taken over a five-year period (between 1953 and 1957) by the legendary New York fashion and film photographer of the 20th century.
Marilyn with Joshua Greene, the son of Milton H. Greene in May 1956.
In the words of the Filmoteca: “ It is a unique opportunity to discover the versatility of the actress and the human being away from the spotlight , in the most diverse settings: during filming breaks, in her studio, at home and in private”.
In the collection we can see a radiant and natural Marilyn, and they reveal a little-known turning point: the moment when Monroe began to control both her image and her life . "These are photographs taken at the height of Monroe's career that masterfully capture her enigmatic charisma and love of the camera."
Marilyn Monroe with photographer Milton H. Greene. in May 1954.
The sample has been produced by the Film Library of Catalonia in collaboration with the archives The Archives, LLC, that guard the exclusive material of the actress, and the selection of the material has gone to the care of the son of Milton H. Greene, Joshua, also a photographer.
In addition to the photographs, the exhibition has an audio guide called ‘Glances: cinema, imaginaries and power’ who comments on the photos "giving rise to a reflection on the power of images, the visual construction of female archetypes or how the film industry, mostly run by men, generates a new mass culture that permeates the collective imagination, influencing relationships social and the forms of eroticism".
You can enter for free until February 21 , and is part of a film cycle dedicated to the actress. Tickets can be purchased here.