Photographer Bert Stern was an iconic American commercial photographer, most well-known for working with famous female stars. Specifically his work with Marilyn Monroe. His most famous work being the last photoshoot done of Monroe, a gallery called “The Last Sitting” which this image is famously a part of. This shoot was done in 1962, six weeks before her death. The photoshoot was commissioned by Vogue magazine, with the intention of capturing Monroe in a series of provocative and intimate shots for an upcoming issue. Stern had originally planned to publish the photos in Vogue, but because of Monroe's unexpected death, the photos took on a more moving approach. Instead of being published as planned, the collection of images became iconic and well-known that captured Monroe's beauty and vulnerability. They have become some of the most iconic images of Monroe as time has passed. Showcasing her in a light that portrays her as a symbol of beauty, glamor, while also representing tragedy.. This specific image was chosen for me, “The Crucifix”, has a red ‘X’ across the black and white image. While it has never been confirmed why the X was added, there have been many theories. Some people think that it suggests that it symbolizes the criticism or the objectification of Monroe as a sex symbol. Others think that it is a symbol of vulnerability or even representing death, given her tragic death shortly after the shoot. When viewing this image in a gallery, It is important for viewers to know these details in order to feel emotions when looking at the portrait and have a better understanding of why it is positioned the way it is. 

“Bert Stern: Marilyn Monroe, the Last Sitting, 1962.” Staley, www.staleywise.com/exhibitions/bert-stern-marilyn-monroe-the-last-sittin.... Accessed 17 Mar. 2024.