Marilyn Monroe With Lituska

Marilyn Monroe with her drama coach Natasha Lytess (Lituska) during the filming of 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

The Coach at Her Side
Marilyn Monroe With Lituska shows Monroe with her drama coach, Natasha Lytess, during the 1954 filming of The Seven Year Itch. Lytess, who had worked with Marilyn for years, was known for her intensity and the hold she had over the actress. Many biographers describe her as both mentor and controller — guiding Monroe’s performance while also deepening her insecurities.

Influence and Tension
On the Lexington Avenue set, director Billy Wilder reportedly grew frustrated with Lytess’s constant presence and whispered instructions. Yet Monroe relied on her deeply, often deferring to her advice in front of the cameras. George Zimbel’s photograph captures this dynamic: Monroe in her white halter dress, Lytess leaning close, embodying the complicated relationship of a star and the teacher who shaped her.

Why Collect Black-and-White Photography?
Because it reveals relationships. In With Lituska, the absence of colour pulls focus onto faces and body language — the glance of the actress, the posture of the coach. You sense both trust and dependence, a dynamic rarely documented in the carefully staged publicity stills of Hollywood.

Cultural Significance
Zimbel’s gift was to capture the story behind the story. This photograph shows not only Monroe, but the influence surrounding her — the push and pull between director, crowd, and coach. For collectors, Marilyn Monroe With Lituska is valued as more than a portrait of a star; it is evidence of the complex forces that shaped her performances and her 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.