Eve Arnold (born in 1912 in Philadelphia, USA; died in 2012 in London, UK) is one of the most important photographers of the 20th century. Even during her lifetime, her portraits and documentaries became icons of photography.
Image gallery
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Yet her career began late: she was in her mid-thirties when she started taking photographs in 1946 while working in a photo lab in New York City. In 1951, she became one of the first women to be accepted into the renowned MAGNUM-Photos agency.
Eve Arnold was a humanist photojournalist through and through. People were always at the centre of her work. From the vibrant African-American fashion scene in Harlem to Marilyn Monroe's moments of vulnerability, from political leaders to migrant workers – with courage and sensitivity, she sought the reality behind the surface and always got to the heart of the matter. She made no distinction between rich and poor, famous or ordinary: in front of her lens, everyone was equal.
She produced her first reportage in 1950s America, during the era of racial segregation, on fashion shows in the predominantly black neighbourhood of Harlem in New York. Instead of presenting the models carefully staged in the studio, as was customary at the time, she focused on the action away from the stage and the preparations at home. It was a revolutionary approach that paved the way for her to join the MAGNUM-Photos agency. Her reportage on Malcolm X and the Black Muslim movement was published worldwide and marked the beginning of her career in London, where she moved in 1962.
In addition to social and socio-political topics, Eve Arnold photographed film stars on and off set for over 50 years, including Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Isabella Rossellini and Orson Welles. She accompanied actress Marilyn Monroe for over 10 years. Her reserved manner and her desire to let her model find her own relationship with the camera resulted in what are probably the most candid and personal pictures of Marilyn Monroe. They allow us to take an almost private look at one of the most famous faces of the 20th century.
The exhibition Eve Arnold. Capturing Compassion comprises around 140 works that provide an insight into Eve Arnold's sensitive and groundbreaking work. Her photographs, characterised by a deep affection for her subjects and precise image composition, have lost none of their fascination to this day.
Opening: 5 December 2025, 7 p.m.
Speakers: Katharina Mouratidi, Artistic Director of f³ – freiraum für fotografie, and Andréa Holzherr, Global Cultural Director, MAGNUM-Photos.
Free admission!
f3 – freiraum für fotografie
Prinzessinnenstraße 30
10969 Berlin
Opening hours: Tue–Sun, 1 pm–7 pm
