Douglas Kirkland

Marilyn Monroe remains to this day one of the most photographed women of the 20th century and among the most alluring, charismatic and idolized American movie stars of all time. In 1961, Canadian photographer Douglas Kirkland (1934–2022) was invited to spend an evening photographing a 35-year-old Monroe at a studio, in the intimate confines of an unmade bed. The result was one of the most iconic and sensual sequences of photos ever taken of Monroe, featuring her mostly undressed and wrapped seductively in silk sheets.
This volume, conceived by Douglas Kirkland's wife Françoise Kirkland, reproduces the series in a leporello format. The portfolio of images, accompanied by Douglas' handwritten notes, unfolds without interruption, transforming the act of reading into an immersive and almost choreographic visual experience. The book draws the reader into the story of a brief encounter between a young photographer and the most iconic and desired woman in Hollywood history.

When thinking of the work of Canadian American photographer Douglas Kirkland (1934–2022), one inevitably recalls images of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot and Coco Chanel, among many others. Yet at the heart of his images of both celebrities and anonymous subjects—intimate or iconic—is a heartfelt sensitivity. As director Baz Luhrmann once said, "Douglas' pictures have this warmth and humanity; they have romance." Featuring iconic couples such as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton; familiar faces including Paul Newman, Judy Garland, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Princess Diana; silver screen romances from Out of Africa, Moulin Rouge! and Titanic; and never-before-seen images, this book showcases Kirkland's magnificent appetite for love, joy and the beauty of human connection. Kirkland's photographs celebrate love in all its forms—playful, tender and enduring—reflecting passion, affection and companionship across generations. As another added tribute to love, Romance is thoughtfully coedited by Douglas Kirkland's wife, Françoise.

In 1961, the young Canadian-born photographer Douglas Kirkland (born 1934) was assigned to shoot Marilyn Monroe over several hours in a closed studio over the course of one night. Kirkland captured a stunning portfolio of alluring and intimate images that survive to this day as a testament to her beauty and vulnerability. This volume celebrates his astounding career.

Kirkland started out as an assistant to Irving Penn when he first moved to New York at the age of 24. After an early stint working for Look magazine, he joined Life as a staff photographer, working there throughout the ’60s and ’70s.

Known for his charming and gentle attitude, Kirkland has served as the only photographer on the sets of hundreds of films, from The Sound of Music to Titanic. His extensive archive of A-list portraits includes Elizabeth Taylor, Coco Chanel, Jack Nicholson, John Travolta, Michael Jackson, Brigitte Bardot, Andy Warhol, Naomi Campbell and Nicole Kidman.