Tom Kelley (American, 1914-1984) - Red Velvet, Marilyn Monroe in Pose #2, 1949

Red Velvet, Marilyn Monroe in Pose #2, 1949, digital print, signed and numbered 53/70 by Tom Kelley Jr. in silver ink recto, with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.
In very fine condition. Please check the scans for details.

Tom Kelley Sr. (1914–1984) was an American glamour and advertising photographer best known for his 1949 nude portrait of Marilyn Monroe—later published as the inaugural Playboy centrefold in December 1953. Based first in New York and then Hollywood, he ran a busy studio shooting movie publicity, pin-ups, and national ad campaigns for brands such as Coca-Cola and Riviera. Kelley’s clean, high-key lighting and polished staging shaped mid-century American glamour; beyond Monroe, he photographed many screen personalities and showgirls throughout the 1940s–60s. The “Red Velvet” Monroe image became an icon of post-war popular culture, widely reproduced under license and issued in signed editions later in his career.