Contact Sheet Print: Marilyn Monroe. New York, 1956

Having dedicated a lifetime to the observation and documentation of the United States, Elliott Erwitt’s work now stands as a testament to what it means to be a modern American. From grandstanding politicians and celebrity culture, to cinematic vistas, Erwitt’s vision of the nation manages to be both unique in perspective and universally affecting. Erwitt photographed Marilyn Monroe a number of times during her career, making a point to always treat her the same as he would any other subject. As he frequently insists, it isn’t his way to “smarm up” to celebrities. Though he has taken some of the most iconic images of the last half century, Erwitt is always matter-of-fact about his process: “You just walk around and look at things and try to put them in the frame. And hope that you will have got something.”