Eve Arnold’s iconic images document the second half of the twentieth century with compassion for her subjects and a strong sense of social justice
Motivated by her insatiable curiosity, Eve sought to capture the story behind the story, photograph the person behind the persona. Actors, civil rights activists and politicians all got the same treatment behind her lense.
Robert Capa (co-founder of Magnum photos) described Eve’s work as “Falling between Marlene Dietrich's legs and the bitter lives of migratory potato pickers.”
Marlene Dietrich in the recording studio, 1952. © Eve Arnold / Magnum
Migrant potato picker New York USA, 1951. © Eve Arnold / Magnum
“If a photographer cares about the people before the lens and is compassionate, much is given. It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.”
Eve Arnold In The Press
"Eve's name is rarely printed without the prefix ‘legendary’.”
- The Guardian
“Legendary photographer Eve Arnold… known for her intimate portraits of stars like Marilyn Monroe as well as her groundbreaking documentary work.”
- CNN
“Whether photographing celebrity or the everyday, Arnold's portraits are magical, memorable and enduring.” - Time Magazine
“One of the 20th century’s foremost photographers and a pioneer of photojournalism.” - The Telegraph
Civil Rights in the ‘60s
“She’s very well known for the famous people that she photographed, but I don’t think that does her service, because that’s easy stuff. She did tough things.”
George Lincoln Rockwell, flanked by members of the American Nazi Party, listening to Malcolm X's speech at Black Muslims meeting held at the International Amphitheater. USA. Chicago. 1962 © Eve Arnold / Magnum
“The reason for this unholy alliance was that the Nazis and the Muslims had a common goal - to divide America between them. The Muslims would get the entire Eastern Seaboard, the Nazis the rest. When I raised the camera to photograph Rockwell and his men, he hissed at me. ‘I’ll make a bar of soap out of you.’ I hissed back, ‘As long it isn’t a lampshade,’ and kept on photographing.”
Behind the stories
Eve’s personal stories behind her most memorable images delivered to your inbox as they become available.
We Value your privacy. We never share your contact details with anyone.
Over the coming weeks and months you’ll receive Eve’s iconic images in your inbox. You’ll also hear Eve’s own accounts of how she captured these images.
For example, the time she escaped government chaperones in a Russian mental asylum, to capture images of political prisoners who were heavily sedated.
Retired woman. China. 1979. © Eve Arnold/Magnum Photos
Marilyn Monroe, studio sessions. Los Angeles, California. 1960. © Eve Arnold/Magnum Photos
Civil strike, Core group. Training activist not to react to provocation. Virginia, USA. 1960. © Eve Arnold/Magnum Photos