William Read Woodfield

Few women embodied the glamour of 1950s Hollywood as completely as Jayne Mansfield. Often mentioned alongside Marilyn Monroe, she became one of America's most celebrated sex symbols, whose beauty and charisma continue to captivate collectors and film enthusiasts around the world.

Among the most celebrated images from William Read Woodfield's legendary 1956 photo session with Jayne Mansfield (1933–1967), this remarkable original Type I oversized gelatin silver photograph perfectly captures the elegance, confidence, and irresistible glamour that made Mansfield one of Hollywood's defining sex symbols of the 1950s.

Photographed in natural outdoor light, Mansfield is shown seated gracefully on a cushion, modestly posed with a relaxed smile that radiates warmth and self-assurance. Carefully composed to emphasize beauty rather than provocation, the image is a masterclass in classic glamour photography. The dramatic pattern of sunlight and shadows cast by the surrounding fence creates a striking geometric backdrop, adding visual depth and transforming the portrait into a work of photographic art.Woodfield possessed an extraordinary ability to balance sensuality with sophistication, and this photograph is one of the finest examples of his artistic vision. Rather than relying on elaborate studio lighting or theatrical sets, he allowed natural light, composition, and Mansfield's magnetic personality to create an image of timeless elegance.This celebrated 1956 photo session produced many of the photographs later published in the historic February 1957 issue of Playboy, an edition that played an important role during the magazine's formative years. Today, these original vintage prints are recognized as some of the finest surviving examples of early Playboy glamour photography.Printed on double-weight, semi-gloss photographic paper, this is an original Type I gelatin silver photograph, produced from the original negative during the period of the photo session. Oversized examples of this quality are exceptionally scarce and highly prized by museums, collectors, and institutions specializing in vintage photography and Hollywood history.Adding significantly to its desirability is its exceptional provenance. This photograph comes directly from the Hugh Hefner / Playboy Collection, one of the most important archives of twentieth-century popular culture. Original editorial prints retained by Playboy are seldom encountered outside major auction houses and represent an increasingly sought-after category of photographic collectibles.William Read Woodfield later became internationally renowned for his iconic photographs of Marilyn Monroe, but many collectors regard his Jayne Mansfield portfolio as equally important for capturing the glamour and optimism of Hollywood's Golden Age.

Details