# George Hurrell artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/george-hurrell/
Profile generated: 2026-08-19T07:46:22.088Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Nationality: American
- Movements: Hollywood glamour photography
- Common media: Black-and-white photography, Portrait photography

## About George Hurrell

George Hurrell (1904–1992) was an American photographer closely associated with the visual language of classic Hollywood glamour. Authority records identify him as a photographer and specialist in portraits of film stars, while biographical sources place his defining contribution in the 1930s and 1940s. His carefully staged celebrity images helped establish a polished, dramatic public image for Hollywood performers. Black-and-white portraiture is central to this reputation, with lighting, pose, costume, expression, and tonal contrast working together to create an idealized screen presence. Collectors commonly encounter Hurrell through photographic prints depicting actors and other entertainment figures, including images connected with the studio era. His institutional and authority profiles—including records maintained by MoMA, Getty ULAN, VIAF, IdRef, and Wikidata—help distinguish his work and identity across museum, library, auction, and search systems.

## Common works and media

Works encountered in appraisal and auction settings are principally photographs and photographic prints, especially black-and-white glamour portraits of Hollywood actors and other performers. Relevant distinctions may include vintage versus later printing, print dimensions, photographic process, signed or inscribed examples, edition information, and the identity or desirability of the sitter. These characteristics should be verified for each object rather than inferred solely from the depicted image.

## Market and appraisal context

A George Hurrell appraisal should compare photographs with closely related examples rather than rely on an artist-wide average. Relevant details include the sitter, image date, print date, dimensions, photographic process, condition, signature or inscriptions, edition information, provenance, and attribution confidence. Exhibition history and catalogue references can provide additional context. Public auction records help establish comparable results, but reporting conventions vary: some totals may include buyer premiums or fees, while others may not. Private transactions and incomplete feeds are also outside many public datasets. These limitations make physical examination, authentication evidence, and a clear account of the print's production history important to a final valuation.

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine artist-identity research with matched public auction records, auction-house context, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. Public records may be incomplete and do not replace object-specific authentication or condition review.

## Sources

- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2506757
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/2198148997677059870002/
- IdRef: https://www.idref.fr/098977393
- Getty Vocabulary Program: https://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500085860
- The Museum of Modern Art: https://www.moma.org/artists/63420
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hurrell
- Wikipedia: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hurrell
- Wikipedia: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hurrell
- Appraisily: https://appraisily.com/artist/george-hurrell/