Image: Courtesy Abe Frajndlich
A new exhibition at In Focus gallery in Cologne, Germany is displaying celebrity photographs shot by some of the world's most acclaimed photographers. Here, Abe Frajndlich captured pop artist Roy Lichtenstein.
Image: Courtesy Thomas Hoepker
Muhammad Ali puts forward the fist that made him famous in this 1966 shot by Thomas Hoepker.
Image: Courtesy Arnold Newman
Arnold Newman photographs the legendary Pablo Picasso staring intently into the camera.
Image: Courtesy Bernard of Hollywood
A 1946 chocolate advert sees a young, red-haired Marilyn Monroe photographed by Bruno Bernard, also known as Bernard of Hollywood. Bernard was known for his images of Hollywood pin-ups.
Image: Courtesy Elliott Erwitt
Another image of a slightly older, slightly blonder Monroe, this time by Elliot Erwitt.
Image: Courtesy Greg Gorman
Known for her roles in "L.A. Confidential" and, more recently, "50 Shades Darker" Kim Basinger was once a fashion model. She is photographed here by Greg Gorman.
Image: Courtesy Elliott Erwitt
Political figures also featured in the exhibition. This portrait of Che Guevara was shot in Havana, Cuba.
Image: Courtesy Greg Gorman
Andy Warhol was more likely to be behind the camera taking iconic images of the world's most famous celebrities than in front of it. However, Greg Gorman managed to get a photograph of a sunglasses-wearing Warhol.
Image: Courtesy Jeanloup Sieff
In this photo from Harper's Bazaar, we're taken behind the scenes of Alfred Hitchcock's hit movie "Psycho." Posing with model Ina Balke, Hitchcock plays up to the camera for photographer Jeanloup Sieff.
Image: Courtesy Jeanloup Sieff
Jeanloup Sieff took this 1985 photo of actress Charlotte Rampling.
Image: Courtesy Jeanloup Sieff
French singer Yves Montand smiles at Sieff's camera under from under a lowered brim.
Image: Courtesy Karin Szekessy
German writer Siegfried Lenz chews on his pipe in this image by Karin Szekessy.
Images: Courtesy Marc Riboud
Chairman Mao Zedong, photographed by Marc Riboud, is pictured in 1957 clinking glasses.
Image: Courtesy Patrick Demarchelier
Patrick Demarchelier, who remains one of the world's most sought-after celebrity photographers, shoots a young Michael Douglas in 1985. Two years later, Douglas would receive critical acclaim for his role in the thriller "Fatal Attraction."
CNN  — 

The best celebrity portraits are embedded in our imaginations, forever informing our perceptions of the people in the photographs.

Even as the paparazzi democratized celebrity portraiture, and Instagram gave stars the tools to do it themselves, great photographers still create powerful visions of the rich and famous, as seen recently with Jean-Paul Goude’s iconic “Break the Internet” Kim Kardashian cover for Paper magazine.

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In Focus gallery in Cologne, Germany is now dedicating an entire exhibition to portraits of celebrities taken by master photographers. Gallery director Burkhard Arnold spoke to CNN about “Famous Faces – Seeing and Being Seen” and what master photographers bring to the table.

CNN: What was the criteria when it came to choosing the photographs for the exhibition?

Burkhard Arnold: It’s not so easy, but we’ve been in the business for 27 years and we know a lot of photographers … Most of the photographs here represent a part of the gallery’s program, as well as the collection of owners, the estate of Bruno Bernard. Those are the main resources and some are added to make the show more rounded.

Image: Courtesy Elliott Erwitt
Elliot Erwitt captures Marylin Monroe.

CNN: What is behind a celebrity’s attraction to having their portraits taken?

BA: Celebrities need to get photographed because without photographs, celebrities would not exist. I think portraits are imperative to being a celebrity; they need publicity and publicity needs something visual. So very famous people like to get photographed because they understand the importance of a visual presence … especially if they are working with master photographers.”

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CNN: Which celebrities have best understood the power of their own image?

BA: Marilyn Monroe was one of the first movie stars to be photographed extensively. She had relationships with a lot of photographers, she knew that photography was very important.

Image: Courtesy Bernard of Hollywood
A 1946 Chocolate Advert sees a young red-haired Marilyn Monroe photographed by Bernard of Hollywood (Bruno Bernard). Bernard was known for his images of Hollywood pin-ups.

CNN: What does a master photographer bring to the table?

BA: A great photographer manages to show more than the portraitists might. They are letting us see behind the person, through a mixture of staged or documentary photographs.

CNN: Do you have any personal favorites?

BA: There is a very sad photograph of Marilyn Monroe by Arnold Newman, shot at Harry Weinberg’s party just a few weeks before she died … which you’re not used to seeing with other pictures of her. I also like his photograph of Igor Stravinsky.

I like Thomas Hoepker’s picture of Muhammad Ali, which is very physical.(In) Patrick DeMarchelier’s portrait of Johnny Depp when he was a young actor, he looks very open, different from how you see him today. And a picture of Alfred Hitchcock by Jeanloup Sieff where he looks a bit like a monster with a dark sky behind him and a young lady in the foreground.

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CNN: Are there any interesting stories behind the photographs? Surely some of those big egos clashed.

BA: There are some stories from behind the photographs, but I prefer to tell people in person.

“Famous faces – Seeing and Being Seen” is on at In Focus gallery in Cologne, Germany until Oct. 13, 2017.