You may think this an odd choice as a Marilyn book of the month but it rightly justifies a place in any Marilyn Monroe collection…
The first thing that strikes you is how beautifully packaged the book is, it has a box slipcase cover with images of Marilyn on each side from the black velvet session of 1955. It’s just a taster of what’s revealed inside.Most people today are familiar with his Marilyn collaborations as most of these have become iconic and have transcended time and have contributed greatly (in part) to Marilyn’s mythological status, you can see countless merchandise of the famous ballerina portrait for sale in any high st – it’s on postcards, framed art, bags and the current canvas trend.
It’s often imitated by celebrities in magazine spreads every other month as they slip into a “Marilyn” mode, another trend these days. But there’s so much more to Milton than that, as this book shows… it’s like a who’s who of an era from the 50s to the 80s.He got his start as a fashion photographer with Harper’s Bazaar but was soon on assignments for Life, Look & Vogue and was quickly credited for bringing fashion photography into the realm of fine art.
Where other great photographers like Richard Avedon & Cecil Beaton seemed content to shoot mostly in black and white to create their distinctive styles, Milton was happy with all formats. But it was his colour photos that brought him most recognition. They were stunning and publishers cried out to have them on their covers.By the age of twenty-three, Milton was referred to as “Color Photography’s Wonder Boy”.Although Greene was initially renowned for his high-fashion photography, it is his remarkable portraits of the most beloved artists, musicians, film, and television and theatrical celebrities, which have become legendary.
It was Milton’s ability as a director that enabled him to capture the qualities that best personified the real person, making each of his pictures an eloquent, unique statement as he converted his remarkable vision into compelling photographic art.He had a gift to be able to create a rapport with his subjects, they look comfortable in front of his lens. But it was his unique friendship, business relationship and ensuing photographs of Marilyn for which he is most fondly remembered.During their four years together, Greene photographed her in 52 photographic sessions, most of which were never published until many years after her death.
She more than any of the subjects has 40 pages dedicated to her alone in this scrumptious volume and to have an overview of all Milton’s work in one big volume like this is something that’s been long overdue with interesting anecdotes from his sons and widow, the book also has a lovely preface by Tippi Hedren.A stunning book that I can whole heartily recommend. Well worth investing in this first edition as it’s sheer luxury.
By Fraser Penney
