With more than one hundred Life covers to his
credit by 1970, Halsman is widely recognized as a great portraitist. After
traditional sessions with sitters, he often asked them to jump for him while he
made a picture. He used this technique to help bring out a less intimidating
side to his occasionally overbearing subjects. Halsman used complicated sets,
as well as jumping, to capture and retain the viewer's attention. Halsman's
work consisted primarily of photographing celebrities, artists, politicians,
movie stars, and other entertainers.

Most likely used with a promotional
article for Carroll Baker's latest movie, Halsman's portrait atypically eschews
innovation in favor of a straightforward portrait of the star in her role. He
posed Baker in a strapless satin gown amidst a pile of fur as she casts a come hither stare. Appropriate to her and Jean Harlow's
early roles, Baker appears very seductive. It is unusual for the era that Halsman did
not heavily retouch the negative, for it was a technique that propelled the
careers of other celebrity photographers.