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 thisfascinating woman’s life and career.   

“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 thisfascinating woman’s life and career.   

Publishers Weekly

Released in conjunction with an exhibition at London's Victoria and Albert Museum, this striking selection of more than 150 photos presents the oeuvre of Lee Miller-model, photographer, surrealist, actor and war correspondent. Published on the centenary of her birth, the book features the largest published collection of Miller's output on both sides of the camera, as well as a comprehensive examination of her life and art. As a model for Voguein the late 1920s, Miller posed for such giants as Edward Steichen and George Hoyningen-Heune. In 1929, she sought out Man Ray as a mentor in Paris and promptly became his apprentice and lover. She went on to distinguish herself across genres, shooting surrealist images, advertising, travel reportage and photojournalism as the only accredited female photo-reporter active in WWII combat areas. Nearly impossible to pigeonhole, Miller shot celebrity portraits with a surrealist sensibility-Chaplin balancing a chandelier on his head-and she composed surrealist images that demand an emotional connection-a severed breast served on a dinner plate. Fusing a compelling account of her storied life, a thorough analysis of her photographic accomplishments, and a handsomely illustrated collection of her work, this book affirms Miller's status as one of the most dynamic figures in 20th-century photography. (May)

Mark Haworth-Booth is visiting professor of photography, University of the Arts, London, and honorary research fellow at the Victoria & Albert Museum, where he was curator of photographs for thirty-five years. He is the author of numerous books including Photography: An Independent Art (1997).