Born Norma Jean Mortenson but better known as Marilyn Monroe, the American actress, model, and singer was among the most famous celebrities of the 1950s and 1960s and would become an icon of the time, embodying the prosperity and elegance of the post-war era. This is perhaps the most iconic image of Monroe and was published during her rise to superstardom in 1955. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Monroe was working in a factory during WWII when she was discovered by a photographer from the First Motion Picture Unit, which would kick off her career in the film industry. 

Monroe was married to baseball player Joe DiMaggio in 1954 though the wedding would only last one year and was ultimately ended by this iconic photograph which was produced to promote her film The Seven Year Itch. The so-called "subway grate scene," from which this photograph took inspiration, remains one of the most enduring images of the 1950s and Monroe's career. Monroe founded her own production company in 1954 and began studying under Lee Strasburg at the iconic Actors Studio in New York City in an effort to gain more serious roles and expand her career. 

This iconic photograph is an essential piece of American entertainment history and immediately transports the viewer back in time, creating an indelible bond between the past and present. American culture was undergoing a period of significant transformation during the 1950s, and Monroe's influence and fame remain a pivotal part of this cultural evolution.

Born Norma Jean Mortenson but better known as Marilyn Monroe, the American actress, model, and singer was among the most famous celebrities of the 1950s and 1960s and would become an icon of the time, embodying the prosperity and elegance of the post-war era. This is perhaps the most iconic image of Monroe and was published during her rise to superstardom in 1955. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Monroe was working in a factory during WWII when she was discovered by a photographer from the First Motion Picture Unit, which would kick off her career in the film industry. 

Monroe was married to baseball player Joe DiMaggio in 1954 though the wedding would only last one year and was ultimately ended by this iconic photograph which was produced to promote her film The Seven Year Itch. The so-called "subway grate scene," from which this photograph took inspiration, remains one of the most enduring images of the 1950s and Monroe's career. Monroe founded her own production company in 1954 and began studying under Lee Strasburg at the iconic Actors Studio in New York City in an effort to gain more serious roles and expand her career. 

This iconic photograph is an essential piece of American entertainment history and immediately transports the viewer back in time, creating an indelible bond between the past and present. American culture was undergoing a period of significant transformation during the 1950s, and Monroe's influence and fame remain a pivotal part of this cultural evolution.