Few names evoke thoughts of feminine beauty and Hollywood glamour quite like Marilyn Monroe. Arguably one of the most famous Americans in modern history, she captured hearts and imaginations around the world through the memorable characters she portrayed on the silver screen. Now, nearly 50 years later, it is the enduring images in these signed, limited-edition photographs taken by famed photographer, director and author, Lawrence Schiller, that are bringing this larger-than-life figure back in the spotlight. Many of them have never been printed until now.

Schiller shot Marilyn in May of 1960 on the set of Let’s Make Love (first image, right). During this “golden age” of Hollywood, studios hired and depended heavily on photographers to take pictures on the set of their movies as a means to publicize their films. Movie stars had much more say over the pictures that were taken of them at this time, and of the dozens of shots Schiller took during filming, this adoring image is one of the only she personally approved.

Schiller didn’t photograph Marilyn again until 1962 when he was hired to shoot the starlet on the set of what would become the last film she would ever work on, the unfinished Something’s Got To Give. Marilyn had the idea of emerging from the water nude in the now-famous pool scene shortly before filming, but no one knew for sure if she would actually do it. She went in with a custom-made beige bikini, and true to her word, stepped out of the pool nude. Schiller describes the moment, saying: 

“Marilyn was a photographer’s dream subject with her clothes on, and even more stunning with them off. Her wet skin glistened. Her eyes sparkled. Her smile was provocative…As I shot, I was sure the pictures I was taking were going to be beautiful and unforgettable. The flow of her spine complemented her natural curves as the water reflected the lights, and the whole scene came alive.”

On August 5, 1962, less than three months after these indelible photographs were taken, Marilyn passed away in her Brentwood, California home. She was interred at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, with arrangements made by her ex-husband, baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. Schiller was there to document the events of the day, and his image of DiMaggio with his son in full Marine dress (third image, right) is one of profound emotion.

Schiller created only 75 sets of these telling photographs, all of which are signed and numbered and come in a signed, custom portfolio. The images measure 20” x 24” and include 10 black and white silver gelatin prints and two color photographs. Each photograph speaks volumes about a woman who was both a cultural phenomenon and, in many ways, a misunderstood, gentle soul ahead of her time.  

To view and learn more about these limited-edition Marilyn Monroe photographs, click here.