By Paul Goldfinger, Photography editor @ Blogfinger. Original post 2013. Ocean Grove, NJ.
I found this “Season’s Greetings” photo card at a flea market/art show. I was intrigued by it. Clearly the work was by a serious artist. The name George Hukar sounded familiar, and a Google search revealed that he was a photographer and painter from California.
George (c. 1895-1975) was a founding member of the San Dieguito Art Guild. He taught painting and photography and he published an article about dark room work in the 1940 Christmas edition of Popular Photography . (Note the cover below.)
It is a bit of a “leap of faith” to believe that the George Hukar from the San Diego area is the one who made my 1931 holiday card, but I am going to assume that it is so.
This is not an ordinary “Season’s Greetings” card. It actually is a limited-edition hand-made silver-gelatin photograph which was sent as a card in 1931. I suspect that George Hukar was known to his friends as someone who would send out an original work of art each December.
The color of the print indicates that he tinted it with some darkroom chemical (toner) such as selenium or a variant of sepia or gold. The lighting makes the image. The model’s face is made dark using a darkroom technique called “burning.”
Perhaps this image was the inspiration for “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” I also like the idea that George would make his own Christmas cards in the darkroom. I have been doing that myself, in small limited editions, inspired by George’s work, although I have never photographed a nude subject other than my kids bathing in the kitchen sink. (That would be when they were very small.)
George Hukar’s article is mentioned along the left side.
Years ago, when all photographs were black and white, there were many creative things that could be done in the darkroom. George Hukar’s article in Popular Photography was called ” Studio Tricks,” so I can see why he did so well with this photo card.
Editor’s note: The post above is originally from 2013, and since then we have heard from others who knew George Hukar.
In 2018 we said this:
In 2013 I spoke to a woman from the San Dieguinto Photo League in California. But she had no record of this photo, however, we could verify George Hukar’s roll in the League.
Today (4/29/16) we got a comment from someone who recognizes our George Hukar as the artist who did the Christmas photo card.
Then, re-posted on September 15, 2018, it’s not every day I get to write about photography, solve a photo mystery, and post a nude on Blogfinger. We did get some additional information then.
July 28, 2020. We just received the following letter from Chrystal Snyder who is in Tempe, Arizona where it was 115 degrees yesterday, and 109 degrees today.
Hello, Paul
I just happened upon your Blogfinger post from 12/26/2013 that mentioned George Hukar of the San Diegito Art Guild. George was a friend of my father, Dick Snyder. He became an informal “uncle” to me and my sisters from the time he moved to San Diego in about 1960, becoming a key part of our extended family.
George was part of the Taliesin Fellowship in Spring Green, Wisconsin, in the 1930s. Through Olgivanna Lloyd Wright, George became a student of the teachings of Georgy Gurdjieff. I heard many stories of his time at Taliesin during my childhood.
My dad and George were friends and fellow commercial photographers in Chicago in the 1950’s. I haven’t seen the 1931 Season’s Greetings card you posted so I can’t confirm whether that one is his. I can say that George was a wonderful mentor to me. I spent countless hours with him in the darkroom and countless more roaming the city, the beach, the zoo and botanical garden, studying light and shadow and getting lost in the thrill of capturing a composition that expressed my own slant on the world.
Chrystal included a rare old photo of George.
Thanks for an unexpected opportunity to relish memories of a beloved friend and mentor!
Chrystal Snyder
Thank you Chrystal for adding to our collection of George Hukar information…a far cry from picking up a photocard at a flea market.
Paul @Blogfinger.net
FRANK SINATRA.
THE JACKSON 5:
Attn Grovers: You will recognize the name Tali Esen Morgan, the long time musical director in Ocean Grove. His beautiful house stands today on Abbott Avenue, the Tali Esen Morgan House.
Here is a link you might enjoy: Tali Esen Morgan House OG
How wonderful to discover all these informations about George Hukar . I have a painting from 1960 made by him that I found at eBay many years ago. It is beautiful . For some reason I have never been able to find anything about him till now. Thank you
Cathie: I know nothing more about Hukar than what is written in the article. But maybe one of our readers might connect with you. Paul
Hi I think I have either a print of a picture or a painting of George Hukar. My father worked for an Advertising Company in Cleveland Ohio and it is signed by Hukar and is a picture of a Marharasha seated with jewelery around him. I believe it was for the Alcoa Account. My dad died at age 32 and this has been in our home. Would anywone have ever seen this painting or print. I will get it looked at but would like to know more about it. I believe the caption on the ad was Alcoa makes more than steel, I think.
Elizabeth. Thanks again for rounding out our post on George. I’m so glad I chose the option to allow comments years after an original post.
There’s nothing better on Blogfinger than when we get first person accounts of something. And it is quite rare when we are talking about the arts.
Paul @blogfinger
My mama and he were great friends. My dad used to say they were having an affair!! I think he was joking!! LOL!!
They both belonged to the San Dieguito Art Guild; he lived at the guild in a small apartment. It was in Del Mar, Calif.
He was not only an amazing photographer, but, a fabulous painter. I well remember his whimsical animal paintings. I wish I had been older so I would have known what questions to ask (you know what I mean).
Also wish I could have bought a painting from him! You are so lucky to have found the photo card. I don’t remember seeing that card, but did see photos like it.
Elizabeth
Reblogged this on Blogfinger and commented:
This post is from 2013. At the time I spoke to a woman from the San Dieguinto Photo League in California. But she had no record of this photo, but we could verify George Hukar’s roll in the League. Today we got a comment from someone who recognizes that George Hukar as the one who did our photo card.
I am sure it is George’s! He was an amazing man!!!