Signed by Bert Stern . Marilyn Crucifix II, 1962

Signed at the bottom.
Bert Stern

The image shows "Crucifix," a photograph of Marilyn Monroe from "The Last Sitting" series by Bert Stern, taken in 1962, just weeks before her death.
The Last Sitting:
This iconic series of photographs, published in Vogue magazine, captured intimate and vulnerable images of Marilyn Monroe.
The "Crucifix" Image:
This specific image features a red "X" drawn over Monroe's body, which she herself marked on the contact sheets to indicate negatives she didn't want published.
Symbolism:
The superimposed "X" in the image, resembling a crucifix, adds a layer of symbolism, capturing Monroe's fragile nature and, for some, serving as an uncanny memento mori.
Context:
Monroe's reason for marking the negatives was reportedly due to a scar from a recent gall-bladder operation that she was self-conscious about.