Marlene Dietrich Portrait Edition

For this new Portrait Edition, the image has been cropped as a vertical to duplicate a rare print that Milton created for an exhibition at the International Center of Photography in the late 1970s. At the request of Ralph Lauren, this limited edition entitled the “Portrait Edition” was introduced in the summer of 2008 for the "Polo" boutiques.

Marlene could have been a stellar cinematographer because nothing escaped her vision. She knew exactly what to do with her feet, legs, arms, body, face and hair. Using what she learned about lighting by the great director Josef Von Sternberg, Marlene was in total control.

The editors of Life magazine contacted Marlene to request a photo session of both her and her daughter, Maria Riva. Marlene insisted on approving the photographer and the final pictures. They told her she would have to talk to the photographer, Milton H. Greene, for picture approval. Marlene showed up unannounced at Milton's studio to meet him. After the introductions, they went to the back of the studio, where they both sat down as she looked over some of his work.

Marlene acknowledged she liked them very much then said, "I want picture approval." Milton replied, "Nobody gets approval, you're going to have to trust me!" She sized him up and eventually agreed. Milton realized her real concern was how she would look along side her young grand daughter.

Marlene is seated on a Nagucci ottoman wearing beautiful black shoes with one leg stretched out. Her chin is tilted slightly down; her hair is obscuring her face. It's a timeless and classic image that portrays only beauty. Then when he photographed the two women side by side he shot them lying back on a table looking up at the camera, brilliant!

This photograph was taken in 1952 with a Rolleiflex camera, which produced a 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 square negative.

This Portrait Edition is limited to 50 Small Prints and 25 Large Prints, along with 6 Artists Proofs and 11 Exhibition Prints.