Posted 9 months ago
HaifaHiFi
(1 item)
I recently picked up this German magazine from 1956 — it's titled **GONDEL No. 89**, and features what might be one of the most stunning portraits of Marilyn Monroe I’ve ever seen on a European cover.
She’s wearing a soft satin-like dress, leaning back in a classic pin-up pose. The lighting is just phenomenal — very “Hollywood dream” meets mid-century European magazine aesthetics.
I’ve been trying to figure out who the photographer is. Some sources say it’s **John Florea**, who shot for LIFE and documented a lot of Marilyn’s most iconic moments in the 1950s. Can anyone confirm that?
Also curious — has anyone seen this issue before? Was it widely circulated in the US or mainly a European piece?
Would love any insight!
And if anyone’s interested, I’m currently letting this one go to someone who’ll truly appreciate it ????
E Bay Gondel issue 89
HaifaHiFi, That image also appeared in the July 1955 issue of Photoplay:
https://m.famousfix.com/post/marilyn-monroe-photoplay-magazine-united-kingdom-july-1955-14714713?nx=35772271
I'm not sure what kind of confirmation about the identity of the photographer you're looking for; however, this source says the photographer was John Florea:
https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/marilyn-monroe-photos-john-florea/
BTW, that costume in the photograph isn't a dress, it's a swim suit.
This source says that the original photograph for the image in this post was taken by John Florea in 1953:
https://perfectlymarilynmonroe.com/post/626919679106138112/marilyn-monroe-photographed-by-john-florea
As to confirmation, I don't know whether there is a signed copy like there is for this photograph taken by Florea of Monroe at her home:
https://bid.juliensauctions.com/lot-details/index/catalog/212/lot/89056/MARILYN-MONROE-JOHN-FLOREA-PHOTOGRAPH