George Hurrell

(American, 1904–1992)

George Hurrell was an American photographer best known for his portraits of Hollywood movie stars such as Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich. Hurrell’s style of lighting and composition enhanced the glamour associated with Hollywood during the 1930s. Born on June 1, 1904 in Covington, KY, he grew up in Cincinnati, OH, developing an interest in painting and photography as a child. Hurrell went on to study at the Art Institute of Chicago, and initially used photography as a way to document his paintings. Well living at painting colony in California during the mid-1920s, photography had started to become his preferred medium. After having made some seductive photos for the actress Norma Shearer, Hurrell was hired on as the head of MGM studios photography department. While working at MGM, he was put in charge taking headshots of the Hollywood stars for each new film. Hurrell served in World War II, and afterward lived in New York as a fashion photographer. Though he returned to Hollywood in the mid-1950s, he found his portraits no longer appealed to studios, though he continued to work as a still photographer on film sets. The artist died on May 17, 1992 in Los Angeles, CA. Today, his works are held in the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., among others.

George Hurrell Artworks

George Hurrell (1,337 results)
Norma Shearer 1934,, 1934

George Hurrell

Norma Shearer 1934,, 1934

Sale Date: April 12, 2016

Auction Closed

Robert Montgomery, 1931, 1931

George Hurrell

Robert Montgomery, 1931, 1931

Sale Date: April 12, 2016

Auction Closed

Jean Harlow, 1933, 1933

George Hurrell

Jean Harlow, 1933, 1933

Sale Date: April 12, 2016

Auction Closed

Portrait of Joan Crawford (2 works)

George Hurrell

Portrait of Joan Crawford (2 works)

Sale Date: April 14, 2016

Auction Closed

Hurrell Portfolio I (ten photographs),..., 1932–1941

George Hurrell

Hurrell Portfolio I (ten photographs),..., 1932–1941

Sale Date: April 17, 2016

Auction Closed

Clark Gable (1932), 1932

George Hurrell

Clark Gable (1932), 1932

Sale Date: March 24, 2016

Auction Closed

Rita Hayworth, 1932–1941

George Hurrell

Rita Hayworth, 1932–1941

Sale Date: March 24, 2016

Auction Closed

Carole Lombard, 1936

George Hurrell

Carole Lombard, 1936

Sale Date: March 17, 2016

Auction Closed

Franchot Tone and Joan Crawford, 1933

George Hurrell

Franchot Tone and Joan Crawford, 1933

Sale Date: March 17, 2016

Auction Closed

Carole Lombard, 1937

George Hurrell

Carole Lombard, 1937

Sale Date: March 17, 2016

Auction Closed

John Barrymore and Joan Crawford, 1932

George Hurrell

John Barrymore and Joan Crawford, 1932

Sale Date: March 17, 2016

Auction Closed

Joan Crawford, 1933

George Hurrell

Joan Crawford, 1933

Sale Date: March 17, 2016

Auction Closed

Clark Gable, 1931

George Hurrell

Clark Gable, 1931

Sale Date: March 17, 2016

Auction Closed

Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan, 1936

George Hurrell

Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan, 1936

Sale Date: March 17, 2016

Auction Closed

Ray Milland, 1931

George Hurrell

Ray Milland, 1931

Sale Date: March 17, 2016

Auction Closed

Norma Shearer, 1932

George Hurrell

Norma Shearer, 1932

Sale Date: March 15, 2016

Auction Closed

Norma Shearer, 1929

George Hurrell

Norma Shearer, 1929

Sale Date: March 15, 2016

Auction Closed

Norma Shearer, No. 2, 1929

George Hurrell

Norma Shearer, No. 2, 1929

Sale Date: March 15, 2016

Auction Closed

Robert Montgomery, 1932

George Hurrell

Robert Montgomery, 1932

Sale Date: March 15, 2016

Auction Closed

Veronica Lake, 1941

George Hurrell

Veronica Lake, 1941

Sale Date: March 15, 2016

Auction Closed

Myrna Loy, 1932

George Hurrell

Myrna Loy, 1932

Sale Date: March 15, 2016

Auction Closed

Joan Crawford, 1935

George Hurrell

Joan Crawford, 1935

Sale Date: March 15, 2016

Auction Closed

Joan Crawford, No. 2, 1933

George Hurrell

Joan Crawford, No. 2, 1933

Sale Date: March 15, 2016

Auction Closed

Jean Harlow, 1934

George Hurrell

Jean Harlow, 1934

Sale Date: March 15, 2016

Auction Closed