Artist Spotlight: George Hurrell

Gay artist and writer Mark A. Vieira's book George Hurrell's Hollywood connects golden age photographer Hurrell's story to both Hollywood and gay history. The book is a treasure trove of Hurrell images. It's also a frank biography of the artist, with revelations about his personal life and his art-world dealings. Interesting information is gleaned from exclusive interviews with Hurrell intimates such as gay film director Paul Morrissey. Some of it comes from Viera's 1970s diary entries. None of it has been published.

The story of Hurrell's comeback is inextricably linked with gay history. He was rediscovered by the gay writer John Kobal. Vieira met both Hurrell and Kobal through Los Angeles movie-still collectors, all of whom were gay, and many of whom exacted quid pro quo from young men looking for work in the film industry. Vieira describes the inner workings of this society in detail.

With a foreword by Sharon Stone, Vieira's book gives deep insight into not only the people that Hurrell photographed but his meticulous techniques and working habits.

Hurrell worked with the era's biggest names -- both on-screen and behind-the-scenes luminaries. Many were gay, bi, or just plain ambitious: Ramon Novarro, Greta Garbo, William Haines, Gilbert Adrian, Marie Dressler, Cedric Gibbons, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Clifton Webb, Tallulah Bankhead, Barbara Stanwyck, Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Anna May Wong.

In both text and photos, the book pays special attention to Hurrell's most stellar muses: Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, and Jean Harlow.

George Hurrell's Hollywood will be published November 5 by Running Press.

Find the book on Amazon here.

Ramon Novarro, 1929

Marie Dressler, 1931

Johnny Weissmuller, 1932

Norma Shearer, 1935

Anna May Wong, 1938

John Payne, 1939

Errol Flynn, 1939

Bette Davis, 1941

Rare images of Joan Crawford, before and after retouching.

John Kobal, 1970

George Hurrell and Mark A.Vieira, 1976

Aretha Franklin, 1980

Grace Jones and Dolph Lundgren, 1984