Object Details
- Artist
- George Hurrell, 1 Jun 1904 - 17 May 1992
- Sitter
- Joan Crawford, 23 Mar 1904 - 13 May 1977
- Exhibition Label
- Destined to become one of the screen’s most enduring stars, Joan Crawford was dancing in the chorus of a Broadway revue when an MGM talent scout discovered her in 1924. Born Lucille LeSueur, she became “Joan Crawford” thanks to a renaming contest orchestrated by studio head Louis B. Mayer as part of a publicity campaign. After appearing in a number of minor silent films, Crawford soared to stardom in 1928 with her tabletop performance of an exuberant Charleston in Our Dancing Daughters. She successfully navigated the changeover to talking pictures and starred throughout the 1930s with many of Hollywood’s top leading men, including Clark Gable.
- Hurrell regarded Crawford as “the most photogenic of the Hollywood group of actresses.” “When I caught my first glimpse of her in the lens,” he recalled, “I felt an emotional tug of excitement. . . . Her large wide eyes and strongly molded features were perfect in the camera.”
- Destinada a ser una de las estrellas más imperecederas del cine, Joan Crawford era corista en una revista musical de Broadway cuando un cazatalentos de MGM la descubrió en 1924. Nacida Lucille LeSueur, se convirtió en Joan Crawford gracias a un concurso ideado por el jefe del estudio, Louis B. Mayer, para buscarle un nombre nuevo como parte de una campaña de publicidad. Tras varias películas silentes de poca monta, saltó al estrellato en 1928 con su exuberante baile de charlestón sobre una mesa en Vírgenes modernas. Crawford transitó ágilmente hacia el cine sonoro y actuó durante la década de 1930 junto a los grandes galanes de Hollywood, incluido Clark Gable.
- Hurrell consideraba a Crawford “la más fotogénica del grupo de actrices de Hollywood”. “Cuando la miré por primera vez a través del lente”, comentó, “sentí una sacudida de emoción... Sus ojos enormes y la fuerza de sus facciones eran perfectos para la cámara”.
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; acquired in part through the generosity of an anonymous donor
- 1936
- Object number
- NPG.2022.37
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Photograph
- Medium
- Gelatin silver print
- Dimensions
- Image: 34.7 × 27.5 cm (13 11/16 × 10 13/16")
- Sheet: 35.4 × 28.1 cm (13 15/16 × 11 1/16")
- Mount: 50.8 × 37.8 cm (20 × 14 7/8")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Exhibition
- Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell
- On View
- NPG, South Gallery 120
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Interior
- Joan Crawford: Female
- Joan Crawford: Social Welfare and Reform\Philanthropist
- Joan Crawford: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Film\Movie actor
- Joan Crawford: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Dance\Dancer
- Joan Crawford: Performing arts awards\Academy Award
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.2022.37
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm41470b0a4-e93b-4b2c-8d3a-bfab43767edb
