Andre de Dienes (Hungarian photographer) used Norma Jeane Baker Mortenson (Marilyn Monroe’s birth name) as his favorite fashion model. After her 1st divorce, de Dienes was an intimate of Norma Jeane’s and photographed her privately in 1945, 1946, 1949 and 1953. His iconic photographs capture her transformation from sensitive and ambitious ingénue into the iconic “Marilyn Monroe.” This photo in a white bathing suit on the beach with a polka dot umbrella (1949) is from one of his most famous series of her. All prints of Norma Jeane from his original negatives are much sought after, but must have authentication papers from the photographer’s estate and his personal verification stamp on the back to have any value. Andre de Dienes was an early adapter of color photography and printing and a master of color printing techniques in the darkroom.
