Marilyn Monroe

About Bert Stern

Bert Stern (1929–2013) left an indelible mark on the world of photography. Through his innovative advertising campaigns in the 1950s and 1960s, he began to carve out an international reputation: His uniquely clear and emotional visual… Read more

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Bert Stern (1929–2013) left an indelible mark on the world of photography. Through his innovative advertising campaigns in the 1950s and 1960s, he began to carve out an international reputation: His uniquely clear and emotional visual language revolutionized commercial photography, especially his famous Smirnoff Vodka campaign staged against the backdrop of the Egyptian pyramids. This stylistic novelty brought him global fame, but it was his portraits of the icons of an era that went down in history. As one of the most sought-after photographers of his time, Stern captured numerous significant figures in pop culture—including Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Brigitte Bardot, and Twiggy.

Stern’s photo series with Marilyn Monroe, known as "The Last Sitting," was taken at the Bel-Air Hotel in Los Angeles in 1962 shortly before her death and remains one of the most famous shoots of the pop icon to this day. Over three days, a series of intimate and compelling portraits was created, including nude shots. The photographs immortalized both Monroe and Stern. Not only did Stern’s subtle skill shine in capturing a star with ideal lighting and remarkable nonchalance, but he also masterfully created a familiar atmosphere that revealed rather unknown sides of famous faces, as the authentic portraits of Marilyn Monroe impressively demonstrate.

Thanks to LUMAS's lenticular technology, a global novelty in presenting the iconic photo session, viewers can get closer to the Hollywood star than ever before: A printing technique that allows for a nearly three-dimensional experience when viewed from different angles, capturing Marilyn Monroe’s dazzling facets more radiantly than ever—sometimes playful, sometimes serious, sometimes seductive. Different, hand-selected sequences transport the viewer to old Hollywood, letting them see through Bert Stern’s lens and almost experience the shoot firsthand.

Stern's intimate relationship with Monroe is reflected in the intensity of the shots. The variety of roles Monroe portrayed—from classic elegance and shyness to playfulness and sensuality—emphasizes the timeless allure of these photos. "The same light that touched her penetrated the camera lens and left these images of her behind."

Stern’s life was intense and excessive, shaped by his passion and the blurred lines between professional and personal. His extensive body of work is now found in leading museums, including MoMA in New York. Stern’s career began at "Look Magazine," where he was inspired to pursue photography by Stanley Kubrick while working as a postal clerk. Later, he himself worked as a photographer on Kubrick's film classic, "Lolita." His work was also influenced by photographers such as Irving Penn and Richard Avedon. His photographs, particularly his "The Last Sitting" series, mark milestones in portrait photography.

Stern was known for capturing not only the outer beauty but also the vulnerability and uniqueness of his models. For example, he did not retouch scars, portraying the person comprehensively in their natural beauty and beautiful naturalness. In "The Last Sitting," this quality met the perfectionism of the style icon: images that she did not like, Marilyn Monroe spontaneously censored with whatever she had on hand—from hair clips to nail polish. Like her beauty mark, which shaped an entire beauty ideal, the works she marked became true originals. Instead of disrupting the pure beauty, it was highlighted through a contrasting element.

The multiphase editions transform photographs that made history into masterpieces of contemporary art: bridging historical significance, innovative character, and timeless beauty.