2. EVE ARNOLD
• Eve Arnold was born in Philadelphia, United States on April 21st of 1912, almost one hundred years later she passed away aged 99 in
London, January 4th 2012. Middle child of nine born to immigrant Russian-Jewish parents William Cohen (born as Velvel Sklarski) and
his wife Bessie (Bosya Lashiner).
• Later on in life she married industrial designer Arnold Arnold in 1948 with whom she had a son, Frank. The marriage later resulted to a
divorce.
• She was an American photojournalist and had become a full member of ‘Magnum Photos’ in 1951.
• Eve photographed numerous iconic figures who were idolised and shaped the second half of the 20th century. A fraction of them
being Malcom X, Joan Crawford and Marilyn Monroe. Arnold had taken various photos of Monroe but her most memorable shots
were the images displayed on the set of ‘The Misfits’ 1951. Unseen vignettes an Monroe taken by Eve were illustrated at Halcyon
Gallery exhibition in London during May 2005.
3. MALCOLM X, CHICAGO, 1961
Malcom was African American minister and human rights activist. In June 1953 was appointed as a
minister. The side profile allows you to view Malcom’s costume and appearance – he is suited, wearing
bowler hat on his head with two hand accessories and glasses. He is well groomed and has freshly
trimmed hair. All these aspects reveal him to be someone of status and value. The accessories add a
sense of wealth and stability.
The shot of X is a close up, revealing a side profile rather than the usual front view, because of this we
are able to see Malcom have his hand behind his head whilst he stares in the distance. All these
attributes generate Malcom to be a man of intellect and value.
The black and white filter creates a stigma of the past - history. Almost like a photograph that would be
issued in a museum or a book about political history.
I believe that this is a realistic representation of Malcom because he was man of great success, and
achievements.
Reasoning for photography?
• Regardless of Malcom’s accomplishments he still received hatred and mockery because of his race.
This photo was released to show he was someone of prominence and not just any other black man
or “nigger”.
• It could be believed that this photo displays that if given a chance how Malcom was black people in
the community could flourish into successful people, rather than being at working class at most.
• The photo feel of being historic might be suggesting that the main focus is the beginning of a
revolution – watershed moment
4. MARILYN MONROE RESTING, 1955
This photo displays a young miss Monroe laying on what seems
to be a double bed in a bedroom. The other contents of the
room are not able to be seen because of the mid camera shot.
As she lays there poised, she places her left hand on her
abdomen right above her pelvis whilst the other hand curves
over her head. Her legs are crossed and her eyes closed, she lays
still. Vulnerable. She wears a bodycon mid length dress which
has a lace exterior and mesh interior. The picture like many other
Eve Arnold has taken is filtered with black and white colour.
Adding an of lust, desire, and secrecy in the picture. These darker
tones surround Monroe like mist in the air.
I believe the image is an accurate representation of the main
subject because Monroe was a well adored sex symbol.
Throughout time it would make sense for her career to become
fart of her persona.
Reasoning for photography?
• Though there is no specific message it is blatant that Monroe
is used to be just to be sexually viewed and objectified by the
audience.
• The darker tones surround Monroe could suggest the lid of an
eye or the lens of a camera, either of which add onto the idea
for the audience to voyeur and believe they are in a personal
relationship with her.
5. MARILYN MONROE, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK
1955
This photograph displays Marilyn Monroe in a colourful, striped, sleeveless bodysuit. She sits on the
wooden bench of a worn out wheel – around obstacle in a park, whilst reading novel book ‘Ulysses’.
Nature (trees, grass etc.) fill the background of the image. The shot is a medium long shot. Revealing
just enough of the background for the audience to identify the location of where the photo was taken.
Monroe looks engaged in her book as her eyes are fixed on the book. The photograph unlike several
other of Arnold’s shots, uses colour.
The book ‘Ulysses’ is authored by James Joyce was published in 1922. Ulysses is the Latinised name of
Odysseus, the hero of Homer's epic poem Odyssey, and the novel establishes a series of parallels
between the poem and the novel.
This shot could be seen as a one “one off” image of Marilyn. Whilst the nature of the scenery wraps
around her she sits, peacefully. Almost as if she is in “her own world”. This photograph is different to a
majority of pictures that Marilyn has taken, where she is usually constructed as “sex object” allowing
the audience to be voyeuristic.
I believe that the representation is not realistic as it highly unlike that Monroe would sit in a children's
park, barefoot whilst reading a book on an ordinary day. This is simply because she was one of the
most iconic figures of the 1950’s, being one of the most popular sex symbols as well as an actress,
model and singer, the odds of her reading a book in the park are low.
Reasoning for the photography?
• Eve could be displaying that there is more substance to Monroe than just her appearance “Beauty is
nothing without brains”
6. IRVING PENN
• Irving Penn was born June 16th 1977 in New Jersey, US. After almost a century he died aged 92 on October 7th 2009 in New York,
US. Like Eve Arnold, Irving was born into a Russian Jewish family, having a younger brother who later on in life became a film
director and producer. His brother Arthur Hiller Penn died in 2010 aged 88.
• Later on life Penn went on to marry his wife, Lisa Fonssagrives who was a model. She passed away in 1992, ending their marriage.
Within their marriage they birthed their son Tom Penn.
• Penn first photographic cover for ‘Vogue’ appearing in October 1943. Best known for fashion photography. Penn's range also
includes portraits of creative greats; ethnographic photographs from around the world; modern still life's of food, bones, bottles,
metal, and found objects.
7. BEE, NEW YORK,1958
The macro shot of the subject displays a bee placed on the left half of the mouth.
The colouring in the image is realistic and corresponds to the features in the
image. That being the pale colour of the subjects skin and the bright red
undertone of the fire coloured lipstick. There is a strong focus on the centre of the
image as all aspects of the mouth are highlighted, for example the differentiation
of shades of colour in the teeth. This intensity of focus is also applied on to the
bee, being that the diversity of shadows on the body of the be are clearly visible.
The strong concentration on the bee allows the audience to see the threat of the
bee and its true venom. The bee has implanted its jaw on the upper lip and its
sting on the lower lip of the subject. This suggest that it is injecting its toxin into
the subjects lips.
Theoretically the images are a realistic representations of the subjects because
display two accurate representations of:
1. A mouth
2. A bee
Reasoning for the photography?
• As bizarre as the selection of elements of the photo are, this image has an
metaphorical meaning. The meaning being how venomous the mouth can
truly be. Illustrating how humans can find themselves talking out of
maliciousness and hatred. The image suggest how people can contaminate
others by their choice of words, whether it be brain washing people to believe
in a certain an ideology or subconsciously vocalising negativity.
• In the human body the mouth holds one of the key senses in the body – taste.
Senses give human purpose, with this purpose human are able to function.
Bees are insects that feed off nature, this image could perhaps represent that
humans should treasure and care for nature because it is just as significant as
there five senses and is key for their survival.
8. NUDE NO 58, NEW YORK, 1958
This image displays a female naked body, with a black and white filter. The background of the image is a
cream colour. The use of such dull filter darkens the atmosphere and suggest that depth of the representation
that it is attempting to present.
Despise the complete nudity in the photo, none of the sexual parts of the female body is exposed. The subject
lays on the ground to her side, knees up to cover the pelvis with her spine twisted upwards so that her breast
are not revealed in the photograph. The subject being positioned like this reveals their ribs and skeleton
structure, this allows the audience the model is underweight.
Visual language
The dark filter is only applied to the body whereas the rest of the image (the background) is nude and plain.
This suggest that the
The representation of the aspects in the photograph are realistic as it does look like an ordinary body structure
and none of the sections are distorted or exaggerated e.g. “Kim K” body.
With all the elements included in the mise-en-scene the meaning of the image could be interpreted in several
ways.
Reasoning for the photography?
• During the 1960’s thin and androgynous women were prominent and more preferred in the US. This
photograph illustrates the crucial reflection of the ideology by displaying the subjects skeletal figure.
• The positioning of the subject enables the sexual features of the subject to not be depicted. The flexibility
of the subject could suggest that Irving was stating that the purposes of women are “flexible” (more than
one purpose) and that their purpose is not to be perceived in erotic manner. The nudity creates a
voyeuristic atmosphere but is the blocked when it is established that there is no sexual features revealed.
Almost as if ricking the viewer in a mocking manner.
9. TRUMAN CAPOTE, NEW YORK, 1979
The image reveals a close up of Truman Capote facing forwards with both hands placed on
either side of his face, his fingers perfectly laced. Surrounded by a texturised black
background . The image is taken in black and white.
Truman Capote was an artist, author and actor. A milestone in popular culture, "In Cold
Blood” was the peak of Capote's literary career. In the 1970s, he maintained his celebrity
status by appearing on television talk shows.
Truman was a multi talented, educated icon, this aura of intellect and dominance is
reflected in the image, fabricating it to be a realistic representation.
This is because of the distinctive elements within the image, previously explored in the
analysis, for example Capotes hands. His fingers formatted in such a way to illustrate
creativity and elegance as well as mastery and sophistication. Of course the demeanour of
serenity would have not been accomplished without the poised, hard glare Truman holds
as he stares straight to the camera lens, creating a personalised relationship between him
and the viewer, using complete direct mode of address. His face straight, emotionless. Lips
pressed tight, not a look of anger, but of seriousness and status. His head held by his
hands, as if to state it something of value and prominence. Finally the white/black filter
which corresponds well with other aspects of the photographer. The simple colouring of
the image creates a feel of ease and tranquillity.
The image is simplistic but manages to create endless connotations placing the viewer in a
hypnotic state.
Overall I believe that the image is an accurate representation of the subject.
The reasoning for the photography?
I believe the purpose of the image was to just simply mirror and expose Truman’s
characteristics and attributes, the image has a good use of levels, positioning and colouring
to illustrate his idiosyncrasies.
