Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell (A Sequel)
“Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell (A Sequel)” presents a second installation of the National Portrait Gallery’s exhibition devoted to the glamour and mythology of classic Hollywood. The exhibition features 20 vintage photographs selected from the museum’s collection of 70 portraits by George Hurrell, whose dramatic lighting and carefully composed poses helped define the visual language of celebrity glamour in the 1930s and 1940s.
Hurrell (1904–1992) became famous as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s in-house portrait photographer before opening his own studio. The photographs portray leading figures of Hollywood’s Golden Age, including Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Marlene Dietrich, Mary Pickford, and Barbara Stanwyck. The installation is curated by senior curator of photographs Ann Shumard.
When: February 13, 2026–January 10, 2027
Venue: National Portrait Gallery
Location: First Floor, South Corridor
Tickets: Price not available
Curator: Ann Shumard, senior curator of photographs
Featured stars: Constance Bennett, Joan Crawford, Marlene Dietrich, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Dorothy Lamour, Myrna Loy, Mary Pickford, William Powell, Basil Rathbone, Charles “Buddy” Rogers, Rosalind Russell, and Barbara Stanwyck
Photographs: The exhibition includes 20 vintage gelatin silver prints, with works dating from approximately 1930 to 1937. Featured portraits include Greta Garbo; Jean Harlow; Marlene Dietrich; Barbara Stanwyck; Rosalind Russell; William Powell; Myrna Loy; Dorothy Lamour; Mary Pickford and Charles “Buddy” Rogers; and a 1936 double portrait of Clark Gable and Joan Crawford.
Clark Gable: The exhibition presents Gable as the celebrated “King of Hollywood,” whose MGM career developed from tough-guy roles into major performances in films such as *It Happened One Night* and *Gone with the Wind*. Hurrell’s 1936 portrait of Gable and Joan Crawford promoted their romantic comedy *Love on the Run*. The two actors appeared together in eight films between 1931 and 1940.
Joan Crawford: Crawford was discovered by an MGM talent scout while dancing in a Broadway revue. Originally named Lucille LeSueur, she was given the name Joan Crawford through a studio publicity contest. Her breakthrough came with her Charleston performance in *Our Dancing Daughters* in 1928, and she went on to become one of the studio’s leading stars. Hurrell considered her exceptionally photogenic because of her expressive eyes and strongly defined features.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.: Fairbanks followed his famous silent-film-star father into acting and appeared in films including *Dawn Patrol*, *The Prisoner of Zenda*, and *Gunga Din*. He was married to Joan Crawford from 1929 to 1934 and later served as a decorated naval officer during World War II.
Collection: The photographs are drawn from the National Portrait Gallery’s collection of 70 portraits by Hurrell.
Support: The exhibition was made possible in part by support from Mark and Cindy Aron. Several works were acquired in part through the generosity of an anonymous donor.