S tudio Ball, the first time Eve ever photographed Marilyn, 1951 Silver Gelatin Print | Edition of 99 Image size 41cm x 41cm £7,500
C hatting on the set of The Misfits, 1960 Silver Gelatin Print | Edition of 99 Image size 41cm x 51cm £3,250
M arilyn and Friend - The Misfits, 1960 Silver Gelatin Print | Edition of 495
HER FIRST CAMERA
as a single woman, to life living on a kibbutz, all of which she faithfully documented with her trust camera. Suitably inspired, Ruth then travelled to Italy, spending time in Rome, Venice and Florence. It was when staying at Hotel Berchielli in Florence that Ruth met Ninalee Craig, who then called herself Jinx Allen, and the meeting gave rise to what became the most recognisable photo of her career. ‘American Girl in Italy, Florence, 1951’ captures Ninalee strolling through Piazza della Repubblica, flanked by men openly staring inquisitively and lustfully at her passing figure. The image originally formed part of a series titled Don’t Be Afraid to Travel Alone , which was later published by Cosmopolitan magazine. When interviewed by The Guardian in 2015 about being the subject of such a famous photo, Ninalee commented: ‘I wouldn’t say the picture has changed my life but I’ve had so much amusement from it over the years. And more free meals at Italian restaurants than you’ll ever know.’
the advertisements promising film-making experience. Again, she would find herself disappointed and disillusioned as this too proved futile. She was later quoted as saying: ‘That’s when I decided to become a photojournalist. There wasn’t any union to keep out women.’
Image size 31cm x 46cm Framed Size 55cm 71cm £350
At 10 years old, Ruth got her wish and was bought her first-ever camera. Costing only $0.39, it was a UniveX model, manufactured by the Universal Camera Corporation in the United States. Ruth’s first experimental foray into photography focussed on capturing that which she knew; and soon her friends and schoolteachers would find themselves the subject of her compositions. However, Ruth was acutely aware that the world held much more to see and capture with her camera so in 1939, at the age of only 17, she travelled across the United States on her bicycle – from Los Angeles to New York – to attend the World’s Fair, taking photos as she went to document the journey. This intrepid undertaking was to become a hallmark of her career, and would eventually result in the image for which she is most famous to date. More on that later.
NEW YORK
In 1943, Ruth made the move to New York, where she would initially work as a nightclub photographer and studio photographer shooting baby portraits in order to make the money she needed to pay her bills and buy her desired professional grade camera. Soon establishing a name for herself on the circuit, Ruth began to take freelance commissions from major publications, her very first assignment being for The New York Times , to shoot none other than Leonard Bernstein. Other notable musicians of the time – such as Aaron Copland and Isaac Stern - were also soon the subject of her photography, as she captured them during rehearsal for the prestigious Tanglewood festival.
between us...Marilyn was very important in my career. I think I was helpful in hers.’ Castle Fine Art is privileged to carry a selection of Eve Arnold photography within our portfolio. Available as both silver gelatins reproduced from her original negatives and limited edition giclee prints, these images provide a candid glimpse behind the scenes of the career of one of Hollywood’s most iconic leading ladies.
America, in 1959 and won the 1st Annual Manhattan Cultural Award, Photography in 1980. Her work has been the focus of solo exhibitions all across the United States, Canada, England, Japan, Russia and Italy, and continues to feature in group exhibitions to this day alongside fellow luminaries in her field, and with an equally diverse international footprint. She continues to be cited in academia, and her legacy lives on as a source of inspiration for the women who have followed her into an industry she helped to define and shape.
scene only a few years later, taking up photography in New York City in 1946. She went on to become one of the world's most revered photographers for her snapshots of Hollywood's rich and famous, making her name as Life magazine’s star photojournalist capturing public figures such as Senator Joseph McCarthy and General Eisenhower during unguarded moments. However, Eve forged her most famous bond with screen siren Marilyn Monroe, at a time when both women were relatively unknown in their chosen careers. This united them, and the two had a special affinity, as Eve described: ‘She was going places, but she hadn't arrived,’ she recalled. ‘It became a bond
NEXT STEPS
GLOBETROTTER
Ruth enrolled at LA City College in 1940 to study photojournalism, before joining MGM Studios the following year as their first ever female messenger, in the hope that it would open doors for her into the world of cinematography. Swiftly realising that opportunities were less then plentiful for women in the industry, she took the bold step of joining the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, having seen
LEGACY
By 1951, Ruth had succeeded in establishing herself as a leading name in an industry otherwise dominated by men. It was at this time that she was given an assignment by Life magazine to travel to Israel with the Israeli Philharmonic orchestra, which afforded her a plethora of new experiences. From travelling internationally
From the early days of firmly shut doors, seemingly impenetrable barriers and endless obstacles, Ruth Orkin is an example of perseverance and courage triumphing over adversity. She was voted one of the Top Ten Women Photographers in the U.S., Professional Photographers of
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EVE ARNOLD
A contemporary of Ruth Orkin’s, Eve Arnold emerged onto the
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