Marilyn Monroe Facing Front

Marilyn Monroe facing forward on the subway grate in her white dress during The Seven Year Itch, photographed by George Zimbel.

Availability & Purchase Enquiry

Signed lifetime prints by George Zimbel are available through the archive and our partner galleries. To learn about pricing, availability, or to ask a question, please complete the form below and let us know whether you’d prefer to purchase directly, connect with a gallery, or join the waiting list for future digital prints. We’ll reply within one business day.

Learn the story behind this piece

Marilyn Monroe Facing Front is one of George Zimbel’s unforgettable photographs from the 1954 filming of The Seven Year Itch. Late that September night in New York, Monroe stood above the Lexington Avenue subway grate in her pleated white halter dress, surrounded by lights, cameras, police, and hundreds of curious onlookers.

In this frame, Monroe looks directly forward, her dress lifted by the subway air. Unlike the studio-controlled publicity stills, Zimbel’s humanist approach captures her vitality and presence in real time — poised in the spotlight, smiling toward the crowd, and embodying the glamour of Hollywood on a New York street corner.

Zimbel recalled how the atmosphere pulsed with anticipation: “There were a few calls of ‘Hey Marilyn,’ but most people just looked, constantly shifting for a better view. They couldn’t see much with the phalanx of police and photographers in front of them, but Marilyn knew how to play to a crowd.” His Leica allowed him to work quietly, preserving fleeting expressions that transcended publicity to reveal the spontaneity of the night.

Internationally recognized for his ability to photograph both icons and individuals, Zimbel’s work is represented in major collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the IVAM – Institut Valencià d’Art Modern.

Collectors value Marilyn Monroe Facing Front as a definitive moment in the Monroe portfolio: a radiant blend of stardom, energy, and authenticity, preserved by Zimbel’s candid lens. Owning this print means holding a piece of cultural history — the night Monroe’s white dress became legend.

Availability & enquiries
Signed lifetime prints by George Zimbel are available through the archive and our partner galleries. To learn about pricing, availability, or to ask a question, please complete the form below and let us know whether you’d prefer to purchase directly, connect with a gallery, or join the waiting list for future digital prints. We’ll reply within one business day.

For more on this unforgettable night, see the documentary The Night I Shot Marilyn.
More about George Zimbel: About George Zimbel. More about Andrew Zimbel: About Andrew Zimbel.

Shipping & Framing Info

Delivery & Framing Options
We’re happy to deliver anywhere in the Greater Toronto Area in person. For orders outside the GTA, shipping rates are quoted post-purchase—we ship worldwide and always strive to keep costs fair. If you’d prefer a gallery handle framing or delivery, our partner galleries can help:

Please let us know whether you’d like to purchase directly through us or connect with a gallery for purchase or framing assistance.

Special Projects & Licensing

George Zimbel’s photography is available for licensing and creative collaborations. His work has been featured in the Four Seasons Hotel Montreal and on international book covers, and is widely represented through Getty Images.

Our team — Andrew Zimbel (creative consultant), Matt Zimbel (producer & creator), and Elka Weinstein (museum and heritage specialist) — brings experience in art, media, and exhibition design. We work with interior designers, film producers, publishers, and advertising agencies to adapt George’s timeless imagery for spaces, stories, and campaigns.