READ THIS: Hurrell: The Kobal Collection Our Coverage Sponsored by Maine Woolens
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Welcome to the world of men in Top Hats and Tails and women in Proper Gowns! There are many books on photographs, but few reach the pinnacle of perfection that was achieved by Hurrell and with the benefit of looking at his prizes taken in the 1930's and 40's today in 2012, we are blessed by Kobal's early appreciation for such genius and admire his foresight for the Hollywood mania that would only increase over time. The art-deco feel makes Peachy Deegan feel she should march over to the Chrysler building to read this! We love it. The strong images and contrast of black and white is truly evocative of glamour and gives a timeless feel of beauty. This is what portraiture is meant to be.
Though if you are Peachy's age you will find that these actors are way before your time. However, you ought to have an appreciation for all that is Old Hollywood because it's classic and historic! You know we are reading many of these biographies on these stars of yesteryear; check out what we thought of Katharine Hepburn, who is on page 184 by Hurrell.
Hurrell was successful because of his technical genius of course but also because of the relationships he was able to establish with each subject on an individual basis which echos our philosophy at Whom You Know-direct relationships give you the best inside story. Often he played music during the sittings. He captured everyone in their best light and you'll see the essence of each subject captured in a quality consistency from page to page regardless of the actual person framed.
Of course we become more and more motivated to see where everything is made and we were thrilled to see this book is produced and manufactured in ENGLAND. The quality is clear from the binding to the thickness of the pages to the resolution of each stunning photograph on each page. As you know we love the mother country from our recent Tea and Sympathy and A Salt & Battery jaunts, nevermind Peachy being glued to BBC Home Entertainment episodes.
It's also nice to know that Hurrell came to New York
to take New York Society photos and
briefly lived at The Waldorf=Astoria (note to publisher: they put an equals sign in their name!), where Peachy just loves to dine.
Specific photographs we commend:
*Buster Keaton showing his eyes peering over a newspaper. Look at the prices! The lights behind him set the stage. (page 53)
*The profile of Errol Flynn is striking, capturing a timeless mood. (page 87)
*Is there anyone that looks more fun in a photo than Jimmy Durante-eyes lit up, proper use of shadows, menacing smile, curled up fingers! (page 145)
*Loretta Young at a staircase-Such Beauty! (page 199)
Whom You Know Highly Recommends Hurrell: The Kobal Collection!
The Reel Art Press Hit Parade continues.
Santa, stock up!
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‘A Hurrell portrait is to the ordinary publicity still about what a Rolls-Royce is to a roller-skate.’
Esquire, 1936.
During the 1930s and 1940s George Hurrell worked with nearly every major studio star in Hollywood. Many would not sit for any other photographer. His groundbreaking techniques, his trademark spotlighting and a rejection of soft focus created a sensuality that would come to define Hollywood's Golden Age.
Hurrell's incredible black and white publicity stills captured many of Hollywood's most glamorous and famous stars as the movie going public had never seen them before. The reason they all insisted on having Hurrell was simple; he photographed a movie star and created an icon.
Hurrell photographed all the greats. Garbo, Cagney, Bogart, Garland, Katharine Hepburn, Harlow, Lombard, Lawrence Oliver, Rita Hayworth, Joan Crawford and he is even credited with creating Veronica Lake’s Peek a Boo hairstyle and for putting Jane Russell (bra less) on a haystack. One of his rare colour photographs of Bette Davis in The Little Foxes was chosen above all 769 portraits and stills to open the Stars in Camera Art touring exhibition sponsored by the Academy of Motion Pictures. In 1981, one of his first portrait photographs of Ramon Novarro sold at Christie’s for $9000. The first time a movie still had ever sold for such a price, it is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Hurrell outlived many of his icons, he died in 1992 and these incredible images are why he is now recognised as America's greatest portrait photographer. Today, Hurrell’s images are as fresh and enthralling as when they first appeared.
This August, Reel Art Press presents Hurrell: The Kobal Collection, a lavish edition of the very finest reproductions of his work yet seen in print and featuring several unseen images of cinema’s greatest icons. All images have been taken from The Kobal Collection. One of the most distinguished archives of classic Hollywood imagery in the world, it has the largest collection of Hurrell material in existence. As John Kobal said on meeting George Hurrell they are quite simply works of art.
Book Information:
£45/$75
ISBN: 978-0-9566487-5-4
288 pp, 260 b/w photographs
HB; 300 x 250 mm / 12 x 10 in.
Tony Nourmand is co-founder of Reel Art Press and editor of all R|A|P publications. He is also the author of a further sixteen best-selling books on entertainment-related imagery, including James Bond Movie Posters and Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years.
Phil Moad is the Research Manager for The Kobal Collection film photo archive. He is a world authority on the Hollywood studio photographers and has helped picture edit over sixty published books.
About Reel Art Press: Reel Art Press specialises in exclusive publications with a focus on entertainment art. Their deluxe editions unveil largely unseen photography and celebrate the people responsible for capturing some of the most seminal moments in entertainment history. The company made headlines around the world with its first four editions: The Rat Pack, Bill Gold: PosterWorks, Weddings and Movie Stars and Hollywood and the Ivy Look and have seven editions scheduled for release in 2012. www.reelartpress.com
