Marilyn Monroe’s Final Portraits Capture a Playful Glow Before Tragedy

On the 100th anniversary of her birth, Marilyn Monroe’s June 1962 Santa Monica beach portraits by George Barris — among her last lifetime photos — reveal a carefree, playful side that contrasts with the later tragedy; the pictures are featured in the National Portrait Gallery’s Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait, and show how Monroe shaped her image with photographers, edited some prints herself, and left a lasting influence on pop culture.