When thinking of the work of Canadian American photographer Douglas Kirkland (1934–2022), one inevitably recalls iconic images of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, and Coco Chanel among many others. Kirkland's photos of famous and anonymous couples alike embody a vision of romance that transcends generations.
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.
Damiani Books (2025)
Hardcover, 8 x 10 in. / 112 pgs / 103 color
