Promotional Tour, Illinois | 1B Large

A pioneer for female photojournalists, Eve Arnold is one of the most influential photojournalists of the 20th century. Expressing their very essence in each photograph, Arnold photographed her subjects in an intimate and informal manner.

A master of black and white and colour photography, Arnold’s photographs of Marilyn Monroe are some of her most famous works. The pair developed a deep sense of companionship throughout their decade-long friendship.

After an invite from Marilyn at four o’clock in the morning, Arnold joined the actress on a trip to Bement, Illinois for a promotional tour celebrating the town’s centenary in 1955. The press had been warned of Monroe’s visit and, as Arnold describes it, ‘everybody wanted to see her, to talk to her, to get her autograph, to touch her’.

The photographer was set on capturing not only the craziness that always surrounded Monroe but glimpses of life behind the spotlight and her mood behind the scenes, which is achieved in this artwork. In the photograph, Monroe is descending the plane, embodying the late 1950s Hollywood glamour, while getting her picture taken by another photographer, capturing Marilyn’s allure and fame.

Fascinated by Monroe’s natural ability in front of a camera, Arnold captured the actress in a way no one else had, in her quiet and vulnerable moments. Arnold’s candid images exhibit the often-unseen side of Monroe, showing the softness and innocence of her authentic self. The photographs captured on The Misfits set are among the last ever taken of the famous actress.

In a career spanning six decades, Eve Arnold photographed people from all walks of life, from the Hollywood elite and political figures to manual labourers. With curiosity as her biggest driving force, Arnold showed incredible bravery throughout her career, putting her commitment to capturing reality above all else, making her photographs a part of history.

A holographic, silvered certificate with archive approved facsimile of Eve Arnold’s signature accompanies each numbered edition.

Each limited edition is a hand-printed silver gelatin print produced from the original negative by Arnold’s long-standing photographic print-maker Glen Brent. The images have been printed on AGSA multi-contrast fibre-based fine art paper.

Arnold’s original negatives are retained by Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University.

Find out more about Arnold here or alternatively shop more art here.

Production & Delivery

All our artwork is made to order in Birmingham, UK, ensuring top quality. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery. Each piece is carefully crafted to meet our high standards.

If you order multiple artworks, they may arrive separately for efficiency.

Returns

We offer a 14-day cooling-off period so you can view the artwork in your home. If it's not right for you, we’ll collect it free of charge or you can return it to one of our galleries.

For international orders, the same policy applies—contact us to arrange collection.