Marilyn Monroe, New York, 1956 - Elliott Erwitt Snaps

Elliott Erwitt's 2002 collection Snaps serves as a comprehensive retrospective of the Magnum photographer's mid-century work. Among the most iconic images included is his 1956 series of Marilyn Monroe in New York, captured during the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl. Erwitt, known for his candid, observational style, approached Monroe not as a manufactured studio icon but as a woman navigating the quiet tension of public life, often utilizing his signature wit and sense of irony to ground the cinematic glamour of the era in human reality.

The publication of Snaps by Phaidon Press was intended to archive Erwitt's vast contributions to 20th-century visual culture. The book's design emphasizes the immediacy of his silver gelatin prints, allowing the Monroe portraits to sit alongside his broader catalog of street photography. Critical reception of the collection highlighted Erwitt's ability to maintain a sense of mystery and empathy in his subjects, with the New York series remaining one of the most frequently referenced portrayals of Monroe's private persona during the height of her career.