Eve Arnold began her photographic journey in 1946, gaining early recognition for her photo essay on Black fashion in Harlem, New York. The work caught the eye of Magnum Photos co-founders Robert Capa and Henri Cartier-Bresson, leading to her formal association with the agency in 1951. She went on to shoot for prominent publications including Life, Esquire, and Paris Match.

Though celebrated for her seemingly effortless portraits of some of the most iconic figures of the 20th century, Arnold was also a renowned photojournalist. Her work took her across the globe, with extensive projects in China, the United Arab Emirates, and Afghanistan.

Her photographs have been exhibited in leading cultural institutions worldwide, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Her legacy is also preserved through numerous acclaimed publications, including The Unretouched Woman (1976), In China (1980), and Marilyn Monroe: An Appreciation (1987).

She was named a Master Photographer by the International Center of Photography (ICP)— one of the highest honours in the field — and was later inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame in recognition of her profound and lasting impact on the history of the medium.