André de Dienes. Marilyn Monroe

In 1945, a significant encounter occurred between fashion photographer André de Dienes and a young, aspiring model named Norma Jeane Dougherty. This meeting marked a pivotal point in both his personal life and his photographic work. Over subsequent years, de Dienes and Norma Jeane developed a close relationship, even becoming briefly engaged. Together, they embarked on various adventurous road trips, during which he captured a series of remarkable portraits. These photographs were instrumental in launching Norma Jeane's modeling career, eventually paving the way for her success in the film industry. De Dienes's collection, which includes both photographs and personal memoirs, provides a revealing glimpse into Norma Jeane's life before she became the iconic Marilyn Monroe. His deeply personal archive, filled with emotion and handwritten annotations, documents her journey from an ambitious young woman to a troubled international star, including poignant moments such as visiting her mother in a mental institution and a visit to de Dienes shortly before her untimely death.