The entire post suddenly became alive when I read Miller’s ode to the woman who enthralled the world…you know you are reading a master conjuring a world he touched for a moment, before it crumbled in his very fingers…
"When he says she never took a bad photograph it is not true. When she sat for Bert Stern he shot color contact sheets and allowed her to X off (in red pen) the ones she rejected. He printed the whole contact sheets, Xs and all. I think I’ve told you many times how I covered her veiny back and shoulders with Pancake. The styling on the Richard Avedon pix is terrific, "
Ah, no. That is the Osborne Bull, which is the symbol of Spain. There are large metal cut-outs along the highways - 20 feet tall - I made a photograph of one I could get up close to. I live in Spain, and this is a nod to that fact.
Hey Rowland, I have seen the full Last Sitting a few times. I find the fact that Bert Stern did not honour Marilyn Monroe’s approval system and printed them anyway appalling. I do not find any of the X’d photographs to be bad, they just didn’t make MM’s cut. In fairness, that is not the same thing.
Men seemed oblivious to women’s sensitivity in those days. It’s quite embarrassing to be a male due to our own lack of sensitivity in the 1950s, and even today.
I must have been living under a rock and I'm glad you dragged me out. This was an entertaining and interesting article, including about the femme fatales who came before Marilyn. Amazing how she could chameleon herself to taking on their image when Avedon clicked the shutter.
Thank you, Glen! It is a remarkable set of photographs. A super interesting collaboration. And i do think MM did a masterful job channeling the the five icons.
What a great idea Søren, to write a post about Marilyn's 100th birthday! She is the closest anyone could come to a definition of 'photogenic', which is another good theme to write about in a broader sense as well.
This article has all the ingredients for making a compelling post, but actually putting it together is something different, which you obviously did magnificently. Avedon, one of my favorite photographers, was the ideal choice for that assignment from Life magazine, and I can't imagine a better trio could be found that would have executed this assignment better.
The personalities of the five 'enchantresses' were different, which is a key element to understanding of how well Avedon and Marilyn did in their execution, although I must admit to have a very limited understanding of the reputations and achievements of these five women, as someone who was born in the '60s and thus did not experience their greatness first hand. But the props, the setting, everything, even down to the facial expression, was done exquisitely.
Looking at the photos themselves (I love the photos you've chosen to make us understand this), I can only conclude that both Avedon and Ms. Photogenic were beyond excellent in their 'performance'. That's why I also appreciate the rather dry sentence in your last paragraph "I have never seen a bad photograph of Marilyn Monroe". That's it. It's not about just having a pretty face, rather the art of being one.
Hi Vincent. Thank you for a great comment. I am so pleased you enjoyed the Post. I wanted to find a way to celebrate what I think is the most photogenic person ever. I have had a small image of the Monroe as Marlene Dietrich photograph for many years. I looked into the circumstances of it being made and found the other four, which led me down the rabbit hole to the background of the four ladies. I had read about them all at different times, but had never looked at their photographs, or dug into their bios. Somehow between Avedon and Marilyn Monroe channeling the five legends, Marilyn Monroe became them in a cleaver and magic way.
I, like you, am from the 60s, so the ladies are mostly before my time, and I probably relate more to Dietrich and her story than the others, but I do believe MM did a magnificent job in this session, as did Avedon!
It’s a great post! By the way: I just saw a beautiful example of a Freudian slip in your reaction: “Marilyn Monroe became them in a cleaver and magic way”.
Excellent article Soren and a great tribute. I hadn't heard of Avedon's session with Marilyn but what amazing images, particularly that closing image as herself. She was born to be photographed - perhaps it was a slight naivety about her but her connection to the camera was amazing. So tragic her life should end way too young.
Thank you, Lin! There is no doubt that certain people have this thing with being in front of the camera. Her entire life seems to have been a sequence of disappointments about not getting the right roles, the right family, the right man, etc., etc. Deeply tragic. Lucky for us, we have the photographs!
As life would have it, I just rewatched PBS's American Masters on Richard Avedon yesterday. Unfortunately, the time they spent on Avedon's session with Marilyn was very short. His brief comment on it may be of some value though.
Thank you, Kenneth! I had a look. Very interesting! The whole program is excellent. Richard Avedon was truly among the absolute best! Many thanks for your comment!
Wonderful tribute and a great way to celebrate Marilyn’s 100th! I wasn’t aware of this Life Magazine piece, which is excellent. It was interesting that Avedon’s images of Marilyn were in color. Personally, I think I would have preferred it if he recreated the 5 women in B&W, but that’s just me.
Hey Todd, an interesting point. I had not thought about that. There are many, many excellent photographs of MM in b+w, but as the ladies she was channeling were mostly photographed in black and white, you are right, it is perhaps and odd decision, though I do think a successful one!
I want to say I'm surprised by the wealth of knowledge you have about the subject but who am I kidding?! ;-) What a wonderful tribute, Søren. I cannot believe it'll be 100 years tomorrow. The song, "Goodbye Norma Jean" immediately comes to mind. What also comes to mind is knowing a little bit about her childhood, her mother's illness and institutionalization, and foster life, it strikes me that she connected with the lens so intimately. It makes me want to read her autobiography... Thank you for this lovely tribute!
Hey Juliette, thank you for your super comment. Yeah, it is strange to consider. I do believe we see those who died young - for instance the 27 club - as eternal and forever young. There is no question that MM was one of those people who had a particular ability in front of the camera. And, you are right. There is a lot of pain in her life and a lot of aspirations, which were never met. Sad. But, on a positive note, she has left us some unforgettable photographs by so many great photographers. It is amazing to see.
Great post, Søren. I guess, based on your opening line, I’ve must be living under a rock as I had no idea she was coming up to what would have been her 100th birthday. It’s clear from the Avedon’s photos (and the many other by other photographers) Monroe was very photogenic and comfortable in front of the camera. It’s just sad that she came to such a tragic end.
Hey Mark, I completely agree. Is is very sad. I am glad we got you out from under your rock! She is photogenic personified. If you can forget her baggage and pain, there is so much joy and happiness in her photographs. It is hard not to smile. At least a little. Thank you for your great comment!
Thank you for this summary of the LIFE magazine photo-essay. And especially, thank you for including the names of photographers (when possible). George Hurrell I'd heard of, but not B.J. Falk, George James Hopkins, or Eugene Robert Richee.
"Fabled Enchantresses" is a fascinating series and it could be paired with the likes of Cindy Sherman's emulation of photographic stereotypes or other postmodern imagery evoking past photo conventions.
When I looked at that first photo of Monroe from 1957 in your post, with her bare shoulders and tousled hair, I was reminded of a piece Richard Dyer wrote that compares Lana Turner and Ava Gardner in a 1952 photograph of the two of them. His point is that Turner's posture, expression, and hairstyle are stiff and "artificial" while Gardner's are loose and "natural" (aka, "authentic").
Monroe's photo, from five years later, fits into that growing trend toward "naturalism" and "authenticity" (ever in quotation marks) that came to dominate 1960s American culture. She was as much the anti-Lana Turner as Gardner was--or even moreso. Of course, Monroe's image was still a construct. Her hair and make-up in that '57 photo are obviously carefully designed.
The bygone stars of the "Fabled Enchantresses" essay--with the exception of Clara Bow--extolled artificiality. E.g., Lillian Russell did not in any way appear "natural." I think part of what makes the LIFE photo essay so compelling is to see Monroe's naturalism buried beneath the artifices of the past.
(Apologies for contributing to the approximately 5 gazillion words that have been written about Monroe. Dyer himself has written about her at length.)
Many thanks, for your poignant comment, Jeremy. Natural and relaxed come to mind when I see photographs of Marilyn Monroe. There is a joy in most all of them, which is hard to beat, and timeless on some level. How many blond bombshells passed across the screen in the 1950s and 60s and how many them can we recognise without looking at the caption? There is something about MM, which I find engaging and wonderful. And what little I know of her upbringing and childhood trauma, her failed marriages and being passed over for 'serious' roles... she manages to park all that and work with a camera in a way, which is fantastic to behold!
I never liked her much. My sister worked for Bert Stern and applied make up to her. The good thing about her is this article. I may change my mind about her. Avedon is a hero, of course.
Hey Rowland, your sister did MM's make-up? That is very neat. I am so pleased you like my Post. Thank you for reading, and indeed, Avedon is most definitely on the Mount Olympus of photographers!
The entire post suddenly became alive when I read Miller’s ode to the woman who enthralled the world…you know you are reading a master conjuring a world he touched for a moment, before it crumbled in his very fingers…
Thank you for your comment, I think.. LoL. A great writer and a great woman, so loved by the camera and her fans everywhere.
"When he says she never took a bad photograph it is not true. When she sat for Bert Stern he shot color contact sheets and allowed her to X off (in red pen) the ones she rejected. He printed the whole contact sheets, Xs and all. I think I’ve told you many times how I covered her veiny back and shoulders with Pancake. The styling on the Richard Avedon pix is terrific, "
--from sister Betsy, who worked with Stern
Are you a Taurus?
No, why do you ask?
The bull in the icon
Ah, no. That is the Osborne Bull, which is the symbol of Spain. There are large metal cut-outs along the highways - 20 feet tall - I made a photograph of one I could get up close to. I live in Spain, and this is a nod to that fact.
Hey Rowland, I have seen the full Last Sitting a few times. I find the fact that Bert Stern did not honour Marilyn Monroe’s approval system and printed them anyway appalling. I do not find any of the X’d photographs to be bad, they just didn’t make MM’s cut. In fairness, that is not the same thing.
Men seemed oblivious to women’s sensitivity in those days. It’s quite embarrassing to be a male due to our own lack of sensitivity in the 1950s, and even today.
So true!
There are those models who own the world in front of the lens. Marilyn, was one of those folks. Great read, Søren.
hey Darin, there are not many, but from time to time, there is one. Monroe was definitely one! Thank you for your comment!
Sorry, I am so late to read this. It was a wonderful read. And I agree - she was the most photogenic person. This is such a wonderful tribute.
I do believe she was. I am glad you liked my little contribution to her memory. Thank you, Susanne!
I must have been living under a rock and I'm glad you dragged me out. This was an entertaining and interesting article, including about the femme fatales who came before Marilyn. Amazing how she could chameleon herself to taking on their image when Avedon clicked the shutter.
Hah, I am so pleased you enjoyed my little tribute. She was so photogenic, it is remarkable. And as you say, a chameleon!
Thanks for the post. I was familiar with many of the images, but not the story behind them.
Another delightful read, Soren, with a treasure-chest of images....
Thank you, Glen! It is a remarkable set of photographs. A super interesting collaboration. And i do think MM did a masterful job channeling the the five icons.
What a great idea Søren, to write a post about Marilyn's 100th birthday! She is the closest anyone could come to a definition of 'photogenic', which is another good theme to write about in a broader sense as well.
This article has all the ingredients for making a compelling post, but actually putting it together is something different, which you obviously did magnificently. Avedon, one of my favorite photographers, was the ideal choice for that assignment from Life magazine, and I can't imagine a better trio could be found that would have executed this assignment better.
The personalities of the five 'enchantresses' were different, which is a key element to understanding of how well Avedon and Marilyn did in their execution, although I must admit to have a very limited understanding of the reputations and achievements of these five women, as someone who was born in the '60s and thus did not experience their greatness first hand. But the props, the setting, everything, even down to the facial expression, was done exquisitely.
Looking at the photos themselves (I love the photos you've chosen to make us understand this), I can only conclude that both Avedon and Ms. Photogenic were beyond excellent in their 'performance'. That's why I also appreciate the rather dry sentence in your last paragraph "I have never seen a bad photograph of Marilyn Monroe". That's it. It's not about just having a pretty face, rather the art of being one.
Hi Vincent. Thank you for a great comment. I am so pleased you enjoyed the Post. I wanted to find a way to celebrate what I think is the most photogenic person ever. I have had a small image of the Monroe as Marlene Dietrich photograph for many years. I looked into the circumstances of it being made and found the other four, which led me down the rabbit hole to the background of the four ladies. I had read about them all at different times, but had never looked at their photographs, or dug into their bios. Somehow between Avedon and Marilyn Monroe channeling the five legends, Marilyn Monroe became them in a cleaver and magic way.
I, like you, am from the 60s, so the ladies are mostly before my time, and I probably relate more to Dietrich and her story than the others, but I do believe MM did a magnificent job in this session, as did Avedon!
Thank you for your comment!
It’s a great post! By the way: I just saw a beautiful example of a Freudian slip in your reaction: “Marilyn Monroe became them in a cleaver and magic way”.
Excellent article Soren and a great tribute. I hadn't heard of Avedon's session with Marilyn but what amazing images, particularly that closing image as herself. She was born to be photographed - perhaps it was a slight naivety about her but her connection to the camera was amazing. So tragic her life should end way too young.
Thank you, Lin! There is no doubt that certain people have this thing with being in front of the camera. Her entire life seems to have been a sequence of disappointments about not getting the right roles, the right family, the right man, etc., etc. Deeply tragic. Lucky for us, we have the photographs!
An insightful read Søren.
As life would have it, I just rewatched PBS's American Masters on Richard Avedon yesterday. Unfortunately, the time they spent on Avedon's session with Marilyn was very short. His brief comment on it may be of some value though.
Go to the 40:45 minute mark of the video
https://youtu.be/YAafQ1CUulE?si=odvssrCBYFSnjbxO
Thank you, Kenneth! I had a look. Very interesting! The whole program is excellent. Richard Avedon was truly among the absolute best! Many thanks for your comment!
Fantastic!
Hey Tamara! Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment!
Wonderful tribute and a great way to celebrate Marilyn’s 100th! I wasn’t aware of this Life Magazine piece, which is excellent. It was interesting that Avedon’s images of Marilyn were in color. Personally, I think I would have preferred it if he recreated the 5 women in B&W, but that’s just me.
Hey Todd, an interesting point. I had not thought about that. There are many, many excellent photographs of MM in b+w, but as the ladies she was channeling were mostly photographed in black and white, you are right, it is perhaps and odd decision, though I do think a successful one!
I want to say I'm surprised by the wealth of knowledge you have about the subject but who am I kidding?! ;-) What a wonderful tribute, Søren. I cannot believe it'll be 100 years tomorrow. The song, "Goodbye Norma Jean" immediately comes to mind. What also comes to mind is knowing a little bit about her childhood, her mother's illness and institutionalization, and foster life, it strikes me that she connected with the lens so intimately. It makes me want to read her autobiography... Thank you for this lovely tribute!
Hey Juliette, thank you for your super comment. Yeah, it is strange to consider. I do believe we see those who died young - for instance the 27 club - as eternal and forever young. There is no question that MM was one of those people who had a particular ability in front of the camera. And, you are right. There is a lot of pain in her life and a lot of aspirations, which were never met. Sad. But, on a positive note, she has left us some unforgettable photographs by so many great photographers. It is amazing to see.
Great post, Søren. I guess, based on your opening line, I’ve must be living under a rock as I had no idea she was coming up to what would have been her 100th birthday. It’s clear from the Avedon’s photos (and the many other by other photographers) Monroe was very photogenic and comfortable in front of the camera. It’s just sad that she came to such a tragic end.
Hey Mark, I completely agree. Is is very sad. I am glad we got you out from under your rock! She is photogenic personified. If you can forget her baggage and pain, there is so much joy and happiness in her photographs. It is hard not to smile. At least a little. Thank you for your great comment!
Thank you for this summary of the LIFE magazine photo-essay. And especially, thank you for including the names of photographers (when possible). George Hurrell I'd heard of, but not B.J. Falk, George James Hopkins, or Eugene Robert Richee.
"Fabled Enchantresses" is a fascinating series and it could be paired with the likes of Cindy Sherman's emulation of photographic stereotypes or other postmodern imagery evoking past photo conventions.
When I looked at that first photo of Monroe from 1957 in your post, with her bare shoulders and tousled hair, I was reminded of a piece Richard Dyer wrote that compares Lana Turner and Ava Gardner in a 1952 photograph of the two of them. His point is that Turner's posture, expression, and hairstyle are stiff and "artificial" while Gardner's are loose and "natural" (aka, "authentic").
Monroe's photo, from five years later, fits into that growing trend toward "naturalism" and "authenticity" (ever in quotation marks) that came to dominate 1960s American culture. She was as much the anti-Lana Turner as Gardner was--or even moreso. Of course, Monroe's image was still a construct. Her hair and make-up in that '57 photo are obviously carefully designed.
The bygone stars of the "Fabled Enchantresses" essay--with the exception of Clara Bow--extolled artificiality. E.g., Lillian Russell did not in any way appear "natural." I think part of what makes the LIFE photo essay so compelling is to see Monroe's naturalism buried beneath the artifices of the past.
(Apologies for contributing to the approximately 5 gazillion words that have been written about Monroe. Dyer himself has written about her at length.)
You can see the Turner/Gardner photo here:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/lana-turner-ava-gardner-original-1858181611
Many thanks, for your poignant comment, Jeremy. Natural and relaxed come to mind when I see photographs of Marilyn Monroe. There is a joy in most all of them, which is hard to beat, and timeless on some level. How many blond bombshells passed across the screen in the 1950s and 60s and how many them can we recognise without looking at the caption? There is something about MM, which I find engaging and wonderful. And what little I know of her upbringing and childhood trauma, her failed marriages and being passed over for 'serious' roles... she manages to park all that and work with a camera in a way, which is fantastic to behold!
I never liked her much. My sister worked for Bert Stern and applied make up to her. The good thing about her is this article. I may change my mind about her. Avedon is a hero, of course.
Hey Rowland, your sister did MM's make-up? That is very neat. I am so pleased you like my Post. Thank you for reading, and indeed, Avedon is most definitely on the Mount Olympus of photographers!