Photography duo Guzman (Constance Hansen and Russell Peacock) have released a book of never-before-seen images of the late Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain, on the 30th anniversary of his death. Named Family Values after a famous Spin magazine cover featuring Kurt, his wife Courtney Love, and their five-week-old daughter Frances Bean, the book includes nearly 100 images captured by Guzman on that day. The cover had garnered attention for Kurt’s handwritten “family values” on Courtney’s belly, which was a response to a Vanity Fair article regarding their drug use and the allegations against them.
While only five images were published in Spin in 1992, Guzman revisited the photographs for the exhibition in 2021, and the full collection is now being published in their book Family Values: Kurt, Courtney & Frances Bean. The photographers recall a friendly encounter with the Cobains at their home in Hollywood, where they were greeted by the couple. The photographers captured intimate moments of the family, resulting in a refreshing outlook on Kurt’s life, particularly during his arduous battle with addiction and mental health issues.
The artists’ aim behind the photoshoot was not to accomplish anything specific initially. However, when the photographers arrived at their house, they realized that there were no handlers or managers, and it was just the Cobains. They were a “really beautiful family,” according to the photographers. Frances Bean was five weeks old at the time, and her presence created a comfortable vibe for everyone in the room. The images captured reveal heartwarming and intimate moments within the family.
The photographs capture moments of the Cobains’ personal lives, including what they kept in their fridge, and show glimpses of their personalities. The duo had a lot of art in their house, which was charming, and they had a room dedicated to painting and drawing. Kurt was, in reality, very attentive and gentle during their encounter, while Courtney was passionate about being photographed. The book Family Values provides an exclusive peek into the life of the Cobains, who were known for their vague and elusive personalities. The photographers shared that these photos are significant because we still aren’t over the “family values” idea as a culture today, and given our current situation, we can take these as an addition to our own, loving family values
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