George Hurrell

George Hurrell (1904–1992) was a pioneering American photographer best known for defining the visual style of Hollywood glamour during the 1930s and 1940s. After moving to Long Beach, California in 1925, Hurrell began his photographic career and quickly rose to prominence when actress Norma Shearer introduced his work to her husband, Irving Thalberg, head of production at MGM Studios.

At MGM, Hurrell photographed nearly every major star of the era, including Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Rita Hayworth, and Humphrey Bogart. His black-and-white portraits are noted for their dramatic lighting, refined compositions, and enduring elegance. Unlike many studio photographers of the time, Hurrell insisted on printing his own work, maintaining uncompromising standards of quality that contributed to the timelessness of his images.

In the 1950s, Hurrell explored new avenues, creating training films for the U.S. Air Force and working on fashion advertising campaigns in New York. His career was revitalized in 1965 by a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which renewed public interest in his portraits. He returned to celebrity photography in his later years, capturing a new generation of stars including Brooke Shields, Sharon Stone, and John Travolta.

Hurrell’s photographs remain iconic representations of Hollywood’s golden age and continue to influence the aesthetics of portrait photography today.