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Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

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Sorry, It's Sold

Joan Crawford in Grand Hotel

Artist:George Hurrell
Date:1932
Medium:Gelatin Silver on Double Weight Semi-Gloss Photostock
Dimensions:10" x 13"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Hollywood Glamour Art
Price: S O L D
Above: Full view

From the personal collection of Joan Crawford, this large format double weight still features the timeless beauty and Hollywood legend at the height of her fame, in a dramatic portrait from Grand Hotel. By George Hurrell, who revolutionized glamour photography with his dramatic art deco portraits of film and theater personalities, this 1932 film still was hand printed by Hurrell for Crawford herself. She later presented the photograph as a gift to her chauffeur. A very rare jazz age view with important and historically intriguing provenance. Features photographer and M-G-M rubber stamps and portrait number 178 on verso. There is a small crease at the lower right corner that does not enter the image area.

Above: Detail view
Above: Verso view

George Hurrell (1904-1992)

George Hurrell was born in Covington, Kentucky, and raised in Cincinnati. When he was 16, he moved to Chicago to attend two art schools, soon dropping out to work as a colorist in area photography studios. In 1924, he found a job as a colorist working for the Chicago portrait photographer Eugene Hutchinson. There, he also learned the basics of negative retouching, air brushing, and darkroom technique. In 1925, Hurrell moved to Laguna Beach, CA, the site of a bustling artist’s colony. He took many photographs of resident artists, their paintings and buyers, and eventually gained a reputation in Los Angeles for this work.

In 1930, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. (MGM) studios hired Hurrell to take promotional portraits of their film stars. After being fired, he became an independent contractor for several of the major Hollywood studios. During the 1930s, he experimented with new equipment and lighting set-up and arrived at his signature style: shining a boom light on the sitter’s hair part or cheekbones, exaggerating eyelash shadows, and extensively retouching the eyes. In the early 1950s, he moved to New York City and shot many advertising and fashion assignments.

Joan Crawford in Grand Hotel

Artist: George Hurrell
Price:  S O L D

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: 1930s, american, art deco, gelatin silver photograph, George Hurrell, glamour, Grand Hotel, hollywood, jazz age, Joan Crawford, MGM, portrait
Added to Gallery: May 4, 2010

 

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    About Grapefruit Moon Gallery

    Grapefruit Moon Gallery, based in Minneapolis MN, specializes in vintage pin up and original illustration art.  We are the proud home of the Bunny Yeager archives.

    Since 2003, Grapefruit Moon Gallery has been a leading dealer of exclusive original paintings by Gil Elvgren, Alberto Vargas, Earl Moran, Rolf Armstrong and Henry Clive, as well as vintage photographs, prints, and period decorative arts in ceramic and metal.

    All artworks featured are original, accurately represented, and guaranteed to be the work of the named artist.

    Interested buyers may view pieces by appointment and we are happy to answer any questions you may have. [Contact Us]

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