Edithe Beutler: Beautifying Hawaii with Color, 2025
Edithe Beutler was a pioneering colorist in a monochrome world. From her early days in Hollywood to her transformative years in Hawaii, Edithe Beutler's journey is illustrated through vivid, hand-colorized photographs. These images, rich in color and detail, capture Hawaii's natural beauty. Through her artistry, Edithe became a trailblazer, turning her passion for photography into a lifelong career that bridged cultures and eras. This is a visually stunning biography that celebrates the life and work of a pioneering twentieth-century artist, offering a unique glimpse into a remarkable woman who left an indelible mark on art history.
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Review
"Before the invention of color photography, Edithe Beutler was among the artists who would painstakingly paint over black-and-white images to give them vibrancy and life ("She transformed the images into a different kind of artwork, and she did so with talent, delicacy, and intuition") ... Cook and Harned's biography of an artistic pioneer offers glimpses into old Hollywood, Hawaii, and the original method for coloring photographs... The authors have intelligently arranged Beutler's arresting images on the pages, highlighting the depth and beauty of her techniques. The chapters are enriched by fascinating details from the silent film era, a bygone Honolulu, and exotic travels across the world. " — Kirkus Reviews
Cover photo
Edithe Beutler, 1945