Douglas Kirkland: Romance

Kirkland's photos of famous and anonymous couples alike embody a vision of romance that transcends generations

When thinking of the work of Canadian American photographer Douglas Kirkland (1934-2022), one inevitably recalls images of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot and Coco Chanel, among many others. Yet at the heart of his images of both celebrities and anonymous subjects--intimate or iconic--is a heartfelt sensitivity. As director Baz Luhrmann once said, "Douglas' pictures have this warmth and humanity; they have romance." Featuring iconic couples such as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton; familiar faces including Paul Newman, Judy Garland, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Princess Diana; silver screen romances from Out of Africa, Moulin Rouge! and Titanic; and never-before-seen images, this book showcases Kirkland's magnificent appetite for love, joy and the beauty of human connection. Kirkland's photographs celebrate love in all its forms--playful, tender and enduring--reflecting passion, affection and companionship across generations. As another added tribute to love, Romance is thoughtfully coedited by Douglas Kirkland's wife, Françoise.