LEE MILLER - a BLOCKBUSTER STUDY DAY

At the Arts Society Hambleton our Lee Miller Autumn Study Day was a was a huge success. Hosted by Lee’s son Anthony Penrose; the event delighted a sell out audience of over fifty members.  It closely followed the launch of the film, “Lee” starring Kate Winslet. If you are unfamiliar with Lee’s life and work scroll down to the end

Our event was originally due to take place a year earlier, in Autumn 2023, however Antony, due his key role in the making and promoting the film had to postpone as the Actors Strike in Hollywood, delayed the release of” Lee”.  The wait for Antony was truly worthwhile!  Through the day he took us on an emotional and visual journey of his mother’s life and works.

Part one, “The Legendary Lee Miller” detailed the amazing life of his mother. Antony’s excellent story telling did not flinch at more controversial aspect of Lee’s life; not sentimental it eloquently described a complex, independent and driven woman living with a truly traumatic start in life. He carefully showcased a talent and independent spirit; well ahead of its time.

The second part was about the Lee Miller Archive created by farmer Antony assisted initially by his wife and then his daughter. After describing their astonishment at stumbling upon the photos and other artifacts, Anthony took us through the complexity of piecing everything together and the technical difficulties of the preservation processes.  Then, moving to the battle for recognition with an Art World who looked upon Lee as living on the fame of Surrealist Man Ray, her one-time lover and long-term friend.

And finally, Antony took us through his mother’s bravery and dedication as a War Photojournalist.  It was Lee’s influence that persuaded Vogue to be the very first to publish her horrific Concentration Camp pictures in USA; as momentous as David Dimbleby’s BBC descriptions in UK.  A truly bizarre moment recalled, was Lee, during the relief of Paris, visiting her friend Picasso who remarked “Having sat out the War here, it is unreal that the first uniformed liberator I meet is my friend and muse, Lee Miller”

Our Chair Michelle Wallace said” I first discovered Lee Miller at an exhibition at the V and A in 2007. Since then I have been to many exhibitions of her work. To have her son Antony, talk to us about her life and his life whilst showing her stunning images was a total privilege”

ABOUT LEE  

American born, she was one of the twentieth century’s most remarkable photographers.  In a life full of reinvention, as a stunningly beautiful woman, she moved from being a model for Vogue & avant garde muse, to set up her photography studio.   Once established she took photos for Vogue and portraits of many of the famous cultural figures of the time.
In WW II, she took iconic photographs of the Blitz.  Then she joined frontline troops moving across Germany to record the devastation & plight of the people. She was there to vividly document the liberation of Dachau concentration camp.