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The Art of Lee Miller
“This is the most scholarly, accessible, and exciting writing on Lee Miller to date.”
---Anthony Penrose, Lee Miller Archives
Lee Miller (1907--1977) was one of the most remarkable photographic artists of the 20th century. She created Surrealist-inspired photographs of haunting originality, portraits of genius, and daring war photographs. This unprecedented book brings together all of Miller’s major vintage prints for the first time, including sensational works never before published, rare and revealing drawings, selections from Miller’s writings as a war correspondent for Vogue magazine, and an extraordinary collage from 1937.
Miller performed with unique success on both sides of the camera. A renowned beauty, she began her career being photographed as a fashion and fine art model by such luminaries as Arnold Genthe and Edward Steichen, stunning examples of which are included in this book. Miller moved to Paris in 1928, determined to take up photography; there she became the apprentice, collaborator, and muse of Man Ray. In the 1930s and ’40s, Miller shot remarkable portraits of such iconic figures as Marlene Dietrich, Charlie Chaplin, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dalí. Turning her Surrealist eye to unexpected photographic subjects, she earned major commissions from American and European fashion magazines and also became a respected photo-journalist. Miller’s startling images of the Dachau concentration camp are among the most powerful records of the Holocaust.
Published in conjunction with the centenary of Miller’s birth, this beautifully designed and produced book is an essential survey of this fascinating woman’s life and career.
---Anthony Penrose, Lee Miller Archives
Lee Miller (1907--1977) was one of the most remarkable photographic artists of the 20th century. She created Surrealist-inspired photographs of haunting originality, portraits of genius, and daring war photographs. This unprecedented book brings together all of Miller’s major vintage prints for the first time, including sensational works never before published, rare and revealing drawings, selections from Miller’s writings as a war correspondent for Vogue magazine, and an extraordinary collage from 1937.
Miller performed with unique success on both sides of the camera. A renowned beauty, she began her career being photographed as a fashion and fine art model by such luminaries as Arnold Genthe and Edward Steichen, stunning examples of which are included in this book. Miller moved to Paris in 1928, determined to take up photography; there she became the apprentice, collaborator, and muse of Man Ray. In the 1930s and ’40s, Miller shot remarkable portraits of such iconic figures as Marlene Dietrich, Charlie Chaplin, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dalí. Turning her Surrealist eye to unexpected photographic subjects, she earned major commissions from American and European fashion magazines and also became a respected photo-journalist. Miller’s startling images of the Dachau concentration camp are among the most powerful records of the Holocaust.
Published in conjunction with the centenary of Miller’s birth, this beautifully designed and produced book is an essential survey of this fascinating woman’s life and career.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 18, 2020
After reading ‘The Age of Light’ by Whitney Scharer I have been hooked on Lee Miller. Thus I went onto eBay and bought this wonderful collage of her photographs. This book however can be read in tandem with ‘Lee Miller - A Life’ by Carolyn Burke as you can look at the photographs in ‘The Art of Lee Miller’ as you read along.
I vaguely remember a news story about her son Anthony Penrose finding his mothers letter and boxes upon boxes of photographs and negatives after her death. He found her a cold, distant, alcoholic mother when alive but once he emerged himself in her life he began to understand how she was a complex, inspirational, forward thinking woman who had suffered PTSD no doubt after her time in WW2. She didn’t not live a conventional life in a time when that was not the proper way a woman behaved.
This hardcover book is a wonderful selection of Millers work. I am almost finished ‘Lee Miller A Life’ and have ordered Lee Millers War. Can’t wait! Can’t get enough of this under valued woman in a mans world in the 1930s to the second WW. Read up and devour her as she must not be forgotten. Regardless of her sexploits, this woman was ahead of her time and didn’t care who knew about it and her talent shone in everything she touched.
I vaguely remember a news story about her son Anthony Penrose finding his mothers letter and boxes upon boxes of photographs and negatives after her death. He found her a cold, distant, alcoholic mother when alive but once he emerged himself in her life he began to understand how she was a complex, inspirational, forward thinking woman who had suffered PTSD no doubt after her time in WW2. She didn’t not live a conventional life in a time when that was not the proper way a woman behaved.
This hardcover book is a wonderful selection of Millers work. I am almost finished ‘Lee Miller A Life’ and have ordered Lee Millers War. Can’t wait! Can’t get enough of this under valued woman in a mans world in the 1930s to the second WW. Read up and devour her as she must not be forgotten. Regardless of her sexploits, this woman was ahead of her time and didn’t care who knew about it and her talent shone in everything she touched.
July 17, 2018
Lee Miller is definitely one of a kind with many facets, of which I love her writing skills the most. No doubt a good photographer and model - the list can go on. Her unembellished writing conveyed the entire scene, with simple sentences she conjured magic, by looking everywhere she could find the other angle that was never revealed without once being crude at all. And very much like Martha Gellhorn, of that same era, how is it possible that they were so incredibly unsentimental.
March 1, 2025
Wonderful.
August 19, 2014
I wish I could give this 4.5 stars, because it's better than just 4.
Lee Miller is one of the only people I admire right up to the point of hero worship. This woman was incredible! Her art, even now, is striking and no matter how many times I look I'm always sucker-punched by how powerful they were. I was thrilled to find this book because the prints are huge.
But it isn't just a gallery of Miller's art. Haworth-Booth has a beautiful collection of her work from her early years all the way to the end, but he supplements it all with quotes from her friends and surviving relatives. I finished it feeling that he had filled in where other biographies were lacking.
The only reason I give this 4 stars instead of 5 is because there are times where it's very clear that what I'm reading is the author's opinion, and I wanted (slash expected) the biography to be as impartial as possible.
Lee Miller is one of the only people I admire right up to the point of hero worship. This woman was incredible! Her art, even now, is striking and no matter how many times I look I'm always sucker-punched by how powerful they were. I was thrilled to find this book because the prints are huge.
But it isn't just a gallery of Miller's art. Haworth-Booth has a beautiful collection of her work from her early years all the way to the end, but he supplements it all with quotes from her friends and surviving relatives. I finished it feeling that he had filled in where other biographies were lacking.
The only reason I give this 4 stars instead of 5 is because there are times where it's very clear that what I'm reading is the author's opinion, and I wanted (slash expected) the biography to be as impartial as possible.
September 11, 2007
The catalogue that accompanies the exhibition of the same name, The Art of Lee Miller is comprehensive survey of Lee Miller's work, which includes photographs never published before. Haworth-Booth's essays provide useful background and insights into many of her most famous images. A must-read for fans of Lee Miller and a good introduction to those new to a talented and fascinating photographer.
November 30, 2016
An excellent presentation of the photography career of Lee Miller. Fewer biographical details. Yet, my lasting impression is that this was an important woman in the history of photography mid-twentieth century.
January 16, 2008
For my article on the exhibition, see Art in America, April 2008 (sorry, not available online).
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews