Beatrice Dawson; Marilyn Monroe
- Artist: Warner Bros.
- Date: 1956
- Medium: gelatin silver publicity still
- Dimensions: 9 in. x 7 1/2 in. (229 mm x 190 mm) image size
- Portrays: Beatrice Dawson, Marilyn Monroe
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
In this 1956 gelatin‑silver still, you can see Beatrice Dawson and Marilyn Monroe side by side. On the left is Dawson, a costume designer, in simple attire that lets her focus on the scene—her hands are poised, perhaps holding a dress. On the right stands Monroe in a long white gown; she appears with an almost playful walk, a gentle wiggle described as “naïve and not brazen.” The lighting flatters both faces, giving the still its classic film‑studio glow.
Notice the small details: Monroe wears simple earrings, while Dawson’s hands are bare. A faint vase or pot might be in the background—common props on set stages of the era. This shot was taken during a wardrobe test for Warner Bros., so it captures both figures at a moment of preparation, not just glamour. The still offers a quick glimpse into the collaboration between designer and star that defined 1950s Hollywood publicity.
See it in person
Beatrice Dawson; Marilyn Monroe is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
