This is a fascinating exhibition that showcases how Marilyn Monroe worked in front of the camera and the photographers, showcasing her intelligence in the way in which she worked.
Is there anyone more photographical or easy to watch on screen as Marilyn Monroe? On the strength of this exhibition it is difficult to think of anyone who matches her capability to work the camera – her intelligence and understanding of what each photographer expected or needed from her is on full display.
Taking us through her early modelling days as Norma Jean Baker all the way through to her last completed film The Misfits, this show captures her working relationships with photographers including Cecil Beaton and Milton Greene with their words and thoughts on working with her is nicely judged.
Marking what would have been her 100th birthday, Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait is filled with some absolutely exquisite photographs of her – both professionally and ones taken by a select few of her fans (which offer a more natural and appealing style in many ways). Particular highlights are the shots taken on the film set of The Misfits which showcases a whole range of emotions that she was able to show and offer a insight into the way in way in which she worked.
Elsewhere, André de Dienes took a range of photographs of her on a beach near Malibu that offer her take on a range of emotions and even her interpretation of death. These images really capture her emotional maturity and intelligence. They are some of the most beautifully composed images in the exhibition.
The closer that you look at the images, the deeper you want to know and understand Marilyn Monroe, but this exhibition captures the fact there were many different aspects to Marilyn and her original name Norma Jeane that by the end you feel like that there is still much to be learnt about her.
In many of the images that have been selected, you get a real sense that behind the smile there is a deeply rooted sadness that not even the photograph can make disappear. One example of this is a photo taken in her final photo shoot towards the shocking end to her life on a beach in which she blows a mini kiss to the photographer as if she was saying goodbye to her fans (the people that she always said that she did everything for) in such a way that is really haunting to look at.
Towards the centre of the exhibition, there is a lovely montage of her film work that adds a hint of nostalgia – her sparkle, her comedic timing is always so exquisite to watch (although it is always a shame that she never got to do more dramatic roles). This segment that just once again shows how Monroe was able to use every slight movement in facial expression to convey something so subtly different.
As the exhibition goes beyond her death to how how legacy continues to shine, modern artists have also explored her through the perils and tragedy of fame and society’s obsession with the idea of celebrity. This is particularly showcased through Peter Blake’s somewhat chilling collaged tribute to her made more than two decades after her death, chronicling her life and poignantly titled after her original name – with the most prominent image of the collage being a paparazzi image of her body being taken from her home in Brentwood after her death. It is one of the most powerful moments in the show.
Perhaps the show is light in terms of her biography, but this is a celebration of the work that she did with a range of photographers – each of whom are given a lovely segment to increase our understanding of how they worked with her and respected her insight into what they were creating. As she became increasingly concerned about controlling her image (given the frustration she had in terms of dealing with numerous film companies), she would take control of the photographs that were published of her – wisely as it added to the air of mystery and fascination that audiences and fans had with her.
Overall, this is a really delightful show to visit and has been beautifully curated to celebrate Monroe and the photographers that she worked with.
Monroe: A Portrait is on display at the National Portrait Gallery until the 6th September.
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️