✨AI Reimagines the Masters✨ George Hurrell|76/1000

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Introduce briefly

George Hurrell (1904-1992) was an American photographer known for his iconic portraits of Hollywood stars during the 1930s and 1940s. He played a significant role in shaping the image of glamour presented by Hollywood during that era [1].

Early Life:

George Edward Hurrell was born on June 1, 1904, in Cincinnati, Ohio [1].

Initially, Hurrell studied painting and had no particular interest in photography. He used photography as a medium to record his paintings [1].

After moving to Laguna Beach, California, in 1925, he met other painters who had connections in the industry. One of those connections was Edward Steichen, who encouraged Hurrell to pursue photography after seeing his work [1].

Hurrell found that photography provided a more reliable source of income than painting, leading him to open a photographic studio in Los Angeles [1].

Career in Hollywood:

In the late 1920s, Hurrell was introduced to actor Ramon Novarro, which led to a series of photographs that impressed actress Norma Shearer. She asked Hurrell to photograph her in more provocative poses, which caught the attention of MGM production chief Irving Thalberg. Thalberg signed Hurrell to a contract with MGM Studios, making him head of the portrait photography department [1].

Hurrell photographed numerous stars contracted to MGM, including Myrna Loy, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and Jean Harlow. His striking black-and-white images were extensively used for marketing these stars [1].

In the early 1940s, Hurrell moved to Warner Brothers Studios and later to Columbia Pictures, where he continued to capture iconic portraits of stars like Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, and Rita Hayworth [1].

Postwar and Later Career:

Hurrell briefly left Hollywood to make training films for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. When he returned in the mid-1950s, the style of Hollywood glamour had changed, and his work was not in demand anymore [1].

He moved to New York City and worked in the advertising industry, where glamour was still valued. Hurrell continued his work for fashion magazines and photographed for print advertisements [1].

After 1970, Hurrell's most prominent work was as a photographer for album covers, shooting covers for artists such as Cass Elliot, Helen Reddy, Tom Waits, and Paul McCartney [1].