For the first time in Barcelona, the works of renowned photographers André de Dienes and Alfred Wertheimer are exhibited at the Foto Nostrum center, revealing secrets of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley before they became famous.
The images, many of which are for sale, will be on display until March 24, 2024.
The double show, ‘Becoming Marilyn’ and ‘Becoming Elvis’, unravels a rare period in the lives of these artists, who at the time had no idea where their fame would lead.
Leonor Fernandes, in charge of exhibitions at the center, emphasizes that “neither of them knew they would become what they were”.
Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley in their early days
Both are remembered as iconic personalities who left an indelible mark. The actress and the king of rock stood out from the beginning of their careers, leaving a legacy that endures to this day, evidenced in successful films and world-renowned exhibitions.
The exhibition ‘Becoming Marilyn & Becoming Elvis’, organized by Fotonostrum in collaboration with the MUUS Collection, presents a stunning set of photographs of Marilyn Monroe captured by André de Dienes, as well as the iconic images of Elvis Presley immortalized by the lens of Alfred Wertheimer.
Marilyn Monroe: beyond sensuality
The section dedicated to Marilyn Monroe, ‘Becoming Marilyn’, presents 51 images taken between 1945 and 1953. During that period, the then Norma Jeane Baker, only 19 years old and not yet famous, embarked on a six-month trip along the California coast with photographer André de Dienes.
During this journey, De Dienes fell completely in love with the young Marilyn, capturing moments that reveal her “innocence, warmth and closeness to the photographer,” according to Fernandes.
From her early days as a model, when she still went by the name Norma Jeane Baker, the photographs offer a unique glimpse of the young Marilyn, before her meteoric rise to fame.
Elvis Presley: between everyday life and fame
The ‘Becoming Elvis’ section, consisting of around fifty images, takes us back to 1956, when Alfred Wertheimer accompanied Elvis Presley on a two-week trip from New York to Memphis.
At that time, Elvis was already beginning to be known, but he agreed to let the photographer follow him on his return home, allowing us to see him in everyday situations: on the train, with his family or at home.
The photographs capture an intimate, sexy, warm and innocent Elvis, before he became the iconic Elvis of Las Vegas. According to Fernandes, these images reveal an aspect of the artist that preceded his worldwide fame.
This double exhibition not only celebrates the visual history of two legends, but also offers admirers the unique opportunity to purchase vintage works signed by the photographers themselves.
