Presented is an original Marilyn Monroe photograph by Andre de Dienes. The 8 x 10-inch black & white photo captures the star on a beach in a white one-piece bathing suit, arms outraised and head back with her eyes closed. Monroe’s hair is tousled and wet. In the photo de Dienes captures the actress’s care-free attitude that captivated filmgoers in the 1950s. The Hungarian photographer was for his work with Monroe, as well as for his nude photography. In 1945, Dienes met the 19-year-old Monroe, then called Norma Jeane Baker, who was a model on the books of Emmeline Snively’s Blue Book Model Agency. Snively told Dienes of Norma Jeane and suggested her for his project of photographing artistic nudes. In his memoirs Dienes described the first time he met Monroe saying "...it was as if a miracle had happened to me. Norma Jeane seemed to be like an angel. I could hardly believe it for a few moments. An earthly, sexy-looking angel! Sent expressly for me!”. His series of pin-up shots of her at Long Island's Tobay Beach, in Oyster Bay, New York, of which the presented item is one, became notable. This photo is stamped on the back in red with the credit “Photo Andre de Dienes 1401 Sunset Plaza Drive Hollywood, Calif. 90069” at the center, and in black with the caption “The Kim Goodwin Collection” in the lower right.

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