Almost everything is drawn, such as the 2 Marlenes, the medal, the car and -in the background- the portrait of film director Josef von Sternberg. He is known as the discoverer and lover of Marlene and first worked with her in "Der Blaue Engel" (see Marlene in suspenders). Personally, I think that the contrast between Dietrich's androgynous appearance on the left, and her appearance as a pin-up girl in "der Blaue Engel" on the right, makes the composition stand out better.
The Rolls Royce Phantom II in the back right was a welcome gift for her role in this film. A gift from von Sternberg.
The drawing is filled/shaded here and there with digitally edited film posters and a "declaration of intention" by which the German-born Marlene became an American citizen.  
In the background you can see a poster of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the first foreign intelligence agency of the United States, precursor of the CIA. During World War II, Dietrich volunteered for the OSS. She made anti-Nazi propaganda on the radio and performed to lend a helping hand to American soldiers. In 1947, Marlene Dietrich received the Medal of Freedom for these outstanding achievements.
                                
Karen Nijst has lived in and near her beloved hometown of Maastricht for many years. She currently works as a web developer (Kahlo Websites in Hapert, Brabant) and is responsible for both programming and graphic design . The latter has undoubtedly influenced some of the drawings you can see.. Read more…