The Maybelline Story

JOAN CRAWFORD – PAUL HESSE – MAYBELLINE

By Sharrie Williams · Written May 2012 · 1 min read

JOAN CRAWFORD – PAUL HESSE – MAYBELLINE





Paul Hesse clearly understood the power


that an image can have over the public. 


JOAN CRAWFORD – PAUL HESSE – MAYBELLINE


Paul Hesse was the first professional photographer to create a true-to-life likeness but idealized, glamorized and enhanced by his ground breaking technique of producing only delicious color values.

JOAN CRAWFORD – PAUL HESSE – MAYBELLINE


To Maybelline-The eye make-up I would never be without, signed…..

JOAN CRAWFORD – PAUL HESSE – MAYBELLINE

Hesse designed rear projection screens for creating custom backgrounds that framed his subjects. The twinkling background in this Maybelline ad made Joan Crawford’s eyes sparkle with expression…… Women who wanted that Star Quality chose Maybelline…..
Tom Lyle, contracted Crawford to be Maybelline’s official spokesperson between 1946 and 1960.


JOAN CRAWFORD – PAUL HESSE – MAYBELLINE

This Hesse photo of Joan Crawford was so highly stylized and hyper-realistic….. she just leaped off the page.

JOAN CRAWFORD – PAUL HESSE – MAYBELLINE


Hesse took this photograph of Joan Crawford and gave it a style that captured the hearts and minds of the American public. He inspired countless celluloid dreams of beauty, glamour and sex appeal.




JOAN CRAWFORD – PAUL HESSE – MAYBELLINE



He was so admired in Hollywood that the actor Bob Cummings modeled his television character on the popular Bob Cummings Show (1955-1959) after him.





Stay tuned for Merle Oberon, Paul Hess and Maybelline next week.




Coming soon · Next from Sharrie Williams

Maybe She’s Born With It

The next chapter of the Maybelline family story. Get a text the day it’s out.

Where it began: The Maybelline Story — Amazon · Ebook · Signed copy