Stunning Portrait Photography by Gjon Mili in the 1940s and ’50s

Gjon Mili (1904–1984) was an Albanian photographer from Korçë who developed his profession in America, best known for his work published in Life, in which he photographed artists such as Pablo Picasso.

Portrait photography by Gjon Mili

Mili spent his childhood in Romania, attending Gheorghe Lazăr National College in Bucharest, and migrating to the United States in 1923. In 1939, he started to work as a photographer for Life (a position he held until he died in 1984). He was a pioneer in the use of stroboscopic instruments to capture a sequence of actions in one photograph, and was one of the first to use electronic flash and stroboscopic light to create photographs that had more than scientific interest. Many of his images revealed the intricacy and flow of movement too rapid or complex for the naked eye to discern.

Over the course of more than four decades, thousands of his pictures were published by Life as well as other publications. Mili died of pneumonia in Stamford, Connecticut, at the age of 79. These stunning photos are part of his work that Gjon Mili took portraits of classic beauties in the 1940s and 1950s.

Analee Daniels, photo by Gjon Mili for Life magazine, circa 1940s

Analee Daniels, photo by Gjon Mili, circa 1940s

Model dancing in satin evening dress, photo by Gjon Mili, New York, 1940

Betty Bruce doing a routine from Broadway show "High Kickers", photo by Gjon Mili, New York, 1941

Model in fine wool coat-dress from Fortnum & Mason with miniature poodle, photo by Gjon Mili, June 1943

Model in checked pinafore dress with white eyelet lace trim by Dan Rivers of Sanforized cotton, photo by Gjon Mili, used for cover of Glamour, May 1944

Dovima in suit with fox stole, double exposure, photo by Gjon Mili, 1945

Fashion portrait by Gjon Mili, 1945

Fashion portrait by Gjon Mili, 1945

45 Model's amphibious coiffure achieved by braiding each half then twisting the braids into a flat circle, skewer with bone for the sea and pearls for the party, photo by Gjon Mili, Vogue, July 1, 1945

Dorian Leigh in swirling chiffon evening dress by Adrian, photo by Gjon Mili, 1946

Double exposure of Dovima wearing a swing coat and fedora, photo by Gjon Mili, 1946

Double exposure of Evelyn Tripp by Gjon Mili, New York, 1946

Fashion portrait by Gjon Mili, 1946

Jean Patchett in a fashion shot by Gjon Mili, New York, 1946

Model in lace dress and fox stole, photo by Gjon Mili, New York, 1946

Sunny Harnett (l), Jean Patchett (c), and Evelyn Tripp (r) wearing white mink stoles, photo by Gjon Mili, New York, 1946

Checkered evening dress with matching stole by Adrian, photo by Gjon Mili, 1947

Double image of Dorian Leigh swirling in a black taffeta ball gown by Adrian, photo by Gjon Mili, New York, 1947

Show girls (l-r): Dawn McInerney, Thana Barclay and Joy Skylar in costume at Latin Quarter in New York, photo by Gjon Mili, 1947

New brilliantly colored stockings & shoes, photo by Gjon Mili, New York, 1948

Simple coats of plain felt with brass buttons and leopard plush lining by Collegeset, photo by Gjon Mili, 1948

Dorian Leigh in a sheer organdy blouse tucked into full print skirt by Ceil Chapman, photo by Gjon Mili for Life, March 13, 1950

Dorian Leigh wearing large pieces of rhinestone jewelry all by Hattie Carnegie, photo by Gjon Mili, Life, February 1950

Four models (Dorian Leigh 2nd from left) wearing sleek underslips that look like evening gowns, photo by Gjon Mili, December 1950

Red dance dresses from left to right: Chiffon with feathers by Miss America, flounced red lace by Traina-Norell, crèpe with bugle beading by Diminutives, scarf-skirted chiffon by Young Hollywood, pink to red fringe by Omar Kiam, photo by Gjon Mili, Life, 1950

Henry Rosenfeld with eleven models (includes Suzy Parker lower left and Dovima lower right with Betty Bridgers next to Dovima) wearing his designs, photo by Gjon Mili, April, 1951

Models, including Barbara Mullen on the right and Joan Pedersen on left, are wearing evening gowns by Balenciaga, photo by Gjon Mili, Life magazine, 1951

Chorus line from the Hot Box Cafe in scene from film "Guys and Dolls", photo by Gjon Mili, Hollywood, 1955

Chorus line in scene from the movie "Guys and Dolls", photo by Gjon Mili, Hollywood, 1955

Chorus line in scene from the movie "Guys and Dolls", photo by Gjon Mili, Hollywood, 1955

Ann Klem standing on crowded New York City street, photo by Gjon Mili, 1956

Silvana Mangano seated in grove of trees on location in Europe for filming of motion picture "Tempest", photo by Gjon Mili, 1958

Viveca Lindfors, as Russian Empress Catherine the Great, in motion picture "Tempest", photo by Gjon Mili, 1958

Viveca Lindfors, as Russian Empress Catherine the Great, in motion picture "Tempest", photo by Gjon Mili, 1958