MARILYN BALLERINA, BLACK & WHITE, 1954

October 1954

Marilyn Monroe as a seductive ballerina.

“The Ballerina Sitting,” one of Milton and Marilyn’s most recognized collaborations, was created in October of 1954 at his New York studio.

Marilyn is wearing an ill-fitting tulle and satin dress. The design of the dress has been commonly attributed to Anne Klein, a close personal friend of the Greenes whose clothes Milton frequently borrowed. However, it was actually created by another New York designer, Herbert Kasper, while working for 7th Avenue fashion manufacturer Arnold-Fox. Milton also used Kasper’s designs at various times during the 1950s. The fitting error was because Milton’s wife, Amy, did not know Marilyn’s actual dress size, as they had yet to shop together. Apparently, the dress was two sizes too small, requiring Marilyn to hold up the front bodice.

All of the poses in this sitting amusingly deal with Marilyn’s challenge of holding up the ill-fitting tulle and satin dress. Marilyn is leaning forward seductively while holding the bodice of the dress in place, revealing her back, the unclasped zipper, and evoking the look that made her a legend.

The most recognized image from this sitting was chosen by Life magazine as one of three most popular images of the 20th Century, along with Albert Einstein by Philippe Halsman and Winston Churchill by Yousuf Karsh.

A fine art print on photographic paper in an edition of only 15 prints.

Seal of the photographer Milton H. Greene in the lower border.

Measures approx. 29 5/8" x 29 7/8" framed.

Photograph By Milton H Greene ©2018 archiveimages