The works of the photographer who most often portrayed Marilyn Monroe arrive in Spain. A total of 111 photographs that portray the star in different emotions and moods
Milton H. Greene, American fashion and celebrity photographer between the 50s and 80s of the last century, was a reference in photography, collaborating with magazines such as "Look", "Harper’s Bazaar" and "Vogue" , and turning his works into a benchmark for future generations of specialized fashion photographers.
In addition to being one of the most established photographers of movie stars of the last century, Greene became one of the main photographers associated with Marilyn Monroe , one of the celebrities he portrayed the most during his career, with a total of more than five thousand photographs. Now, some of them can be enjoyed for the first time in Spain until June 9 at the Museo de La Pasión in Valladolid.
It was in 1952 when “Look” magazine commissioned a photo session that would be the first meeting with Monroe and that, with the passage of time, led to a friendship and even led the actress to live with H. Greene and his family on their Connecticut farm before marrying Arthur Miller.
Fifty-two photo sessions emerged from the friendship between actress and photographer, as well as from the professional relationship, in addition to the commission by the artist to make her biography, becoming the photographer for whom the actress posed the most times, highlighting the series of photographs “Black sitting”.
Later, Greene would collaborate with Normal Mailer in the elaboration of a fictional autobiography of the actress, which they would call "Of Women and Their Elegance".
Fifty-two photo sessions and two biographies
During this time, H. Greene was able to capture some of the most famous photos that make up Marilyn’s photographic collection, in which her moods, beauty, talent and spirit are appreciated, fundamental aspects for the photographer, who tried to capture through his portraits, making these attributes a hallmark both in his portraits of celebrities and stars and in his fashion work.
This relationship of friendship and professionalism with the actress, led to the creation between the two of a film production company that launched the films "Bus Stop" (1956) and "The Prince and the Showgirl" (1957).
Being the first of them critically acclaimed, receiving two Golden Globe nominations for Best Comedy / Musical Film and Best Leading Actress, which was Marilyn Monroe, in addition to winning an ‘Oscar for best supporting actor.
H. Greene not only portrayed the famous Hollywood actress, but also other celebrities such as Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn or Geraldine Chaplin, who posed in front of his lens, photographs that can also be seen in the exhibition.
The curator of the exhibition, Anne Morin, explained that H. Greene is valued because his models “were not simply hangers on which to hang the clothes they had to photograph, but were people who agreed to have an identity, like Suzy Parker, ”a 1950s supermodel turned movie star.
In total, 111 works are exhibited by the Passion Museum, not all of which are photographs, but you can also see unpublished pieces, loaned by the Elizabeth Margot Collection, as original covers of the magazines for which he worked. documentation of your sessions or the negatives of your reel.