Object Details
- Artist
- Philippe Halsman, 2 May 1906 - 25 Jun 1979
- Sitter
- Eartha Kitt, 17 Jan 1927 - 25 Dec 2008
- Exhibition Label
- Born North, South Carolina
- With a voice like a sultry purr, entertainer Eartha Kitt claimed countless fans, including Orson Welles, who called her “the most exciting woman in the world.” Kitt debuted as a featured dancer and vocalist with Katherine Dunham’s dance troupe in 1945, before embarking on an international career as a cabaret singer and actor. Her singing style and provocative stage persona made her a top nightclub attraction, and her early 1950s recordings of “C’est si bon” and “Santa Baby” remain popular standards. Kitt’s career has included performances on Broadway, in films, and on television, where she scored a hit as the villainous Catwoman on Batman (1967). She is also remembered for voicing her opposition to the Vietnam War during a 1968 White House luncheon hosted by Lady Bird Johnson—an action that caused Kitt to be blacklisted professionally for some time.
- Nacida en North, Carolina del Sur
- Con una voz semejante a un sensual ronroneo, la artista Eartha Kitt tuvo incontables seguidores, incluidos Orson Welles, que la llamó “la mujer más fascinante del mundo”. Kitt debutó como bailarina y vocalista principal en la compañía de danza de Catherine Dunham en 1945, antes de embarcarse en una carrera internacional como cantante y actriz de cabaret. Su estilo de canto y su provocadora imagen sobre el escenario hicieron de ella una de las máximas atracciones de club nocturno, y sus grabaciones de principios de la década de 1950 de “C’est si bon” y “Santa Baby” siguen siendo un estándar popular. La carrera de Kitt incluyó actuaciones en Broadway, en películas y en televisión, donde consiguió el éxito interpretando a la villana Catwoman en Batman (1967). También se la recuerda por dar voz a la oposición a la Guerra de Vietnam durante un almuerzo en la Casa Blanca organizado en 1968 por Lady Bird Johnson, una acción que colocó a Kitt en la lista negra profesional durante algún tiempo.
- 9
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of George R. Rinhart
- 1954
- Object number
- NPG.83.100
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Copyright
- © Philippe Halsman Archive
- Type
- Photograph
- Medium
- Gelatin silver print
- Dimensions
- Image: 24.9 × 19.7 cm (9 13/16 × 7 3/4")
- Sheet: 28 × 21 cm (11 × 8 1/4")
- Mat: 45.7 × 35.6 cm (18 × 14")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Costume\Jewelry\Earring
- Interior
- Eartha Kitt: Female
- Eartha Kitt: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Singer
- Eartha Kitt: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Film\Movie actor
- Eartha Kitt: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Performer\Entertainer
- Eartha Kitt: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Television\Television actor
- Eartha Kitt: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Dance\Dancer\Modern dancer
- Eartha Kitt: Performing arts awards\Grammy
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.83.100
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4a9b92697-8399-4f58-afe0-a6db2d14a038
