Irving Penn photo, Nubile Young Beauty of Diamaré, 1969.

Irving Penn (b. 16 June 1917) is an American photographer, born in New Jersey. Known primarily for his fashion photography, Penn's work shows a unique vision and a wide range of subjects. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 430 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1245 × 1736 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 430 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1245 × 1736 pixel, file size: 1. ... is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... This is a list of notable photographers in the art, documentary and fashion traditions. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ...

Biography

Early career

Irving Penn studied under Alexey Brodovitch at the Philadelphia Museum School from which he graduated in 1938. Penn's drawings were published by Harper's Bazaar and he also painted. As his career in photography blossomed, he became known for post World War II feminine chic and glamour photography. Alexey Brodovich/Brodovitch (1898-1971) was a Russian emigrant photographer and designer who worked in Paris, then America, at the beginning of the twentieth century. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Harpers & Queen. ...

Penn worked for many years doing fashion photography for Vogue magazine. He was among the first photographers to pose subjects against a simple grey or white backdrop and used this simplicity more effectively than other photographers. Expanding his austere studio surroundings, Penn constructed a set of upright angled backdrops, to form a stark, acute corner. Posing his subjects within this tight, unorthodox space, Penn brought an unprecedented sense of drama to his portraits, driving the viewer's focus onto the person and their expression. In many photos, the subjects appeared wedged into the corner. Subjects photographed with this technique included Martha Graham, Marcel Duchamp, and Georgia O'Keeffe, W.H. Auden, Igor Stravinsky, and Marlene Dietrich. It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... Martha Graham (May 11, 1894 – April 1, 1991) was an American dancer and choreographer. ... Marcel Duchamp (pronounced ) (July 28, 1887 – October 2, 1968) was a French artist (he became an American citizen in 1955) whose work and ideas had considerable influence on the development of post-World War II Western art, and whose advice to modern art collectors helped shape the tastes of the... Georgia Totto OKeeffe (November 15, 1887—March 6, 1986) was an American artist. ... Christopher Isherwood and W.H. Auden, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1939 Wystan Hugh Auden (February 21, 1907–September 29, 1973) was an English poet. ... Igor Stravinsky. ... Marlene Dietrich IPA: ; (December 27, 1901 – May 6, 1992) was a German-born American actress, singer, and entertainer. ...

While a master of the studio flash, most of Penn's portraits are lighted with window light. For travelling to New Guinea and other locations to photograph indigenous people, Penn created a portable studio with a skylight deployed facing north with impressive results.

In 1950, Penn married his favorite model, Lisa Fonssagrives and he founded his studio in 1953. They have one son together, who is named Tom. Lisa Fonssagrives as photographed by Edgar de Evia in his home in the Rhinelander Mansion Lisa Fonssagrives (May 17, 1911 – February 4, 1992), born Lisa Anderson in Sweden, was a supermodel, dancer, fashion designer, photographer and sculptor. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Penn's style

Clarity, composition, careful arrangement of objects or people, form, and the use of light characterize Penn's work. Penn also photographs still life objects and found objects in unusual arrangements with great detail and clarity. A still life is a work of art which represents a subject composed of inanimate objects. ... Found objects are materials found (such as pebbles, candy wrappers, or leaves) and not made (such as inks, paints, and crayons. ...

While his prints are always clean and clear, Penn's subjects vary widely. Many times his photographs are so ahead of their time that they only came to be appreciated as important works in the modernist canon years after their creation. For example, a series of posed nudes whose physical shapes range from thin to plump were shot in 1949-1950, but were not exhibited until 1980. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...

Legacy

Penn currently lives and works in New York City, and continues to be a regular contributor to Vogue magazine. He has published numerous books including the recent, "A Notebook at Random" which offers a generous selection of photographs, paintings, and documents of his working methods. Penn's wife, Lisa Fonssagrives, died in 1992.

In 2002, 53 photos were shown in a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In many of this prints, the subjects appear sculptural and like a primitive Venus. The graphic detail and clarity of his images would not have been possible to put on display in earlier years. Also see: 2002 (number). ... Metropolitan Museum of Art New York Elevation The Metropolitan Museum of Art, often referred to simply as The Met, is one of the worlds largest and most important art museums. ...

In July 2005, Penn's work was shown at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC in an exhibit titled "Irving Penn: Platinum Prints." The West building of the National Gallery of Art with the East building visible behind and to to the left The National Gallery of Art is an art museum, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The museum was established in 1937 by the Congress, with funds for... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United...

Quotes

"Photographing a cake can be art" —Irving Penn

Books by Penn

• (2004) A notebook at Random (ISBN 0-8212-6192-4)
• (2004) Photographs of Dahomey (ISBN 3-7757-1449-9)
• (2001) Still Life (ISBN 0-8212-2702-5)
• (1999) Drawings (ISBN 0-9665480-0-0)
• (1999) The Astronomers Plan a Voyage to Earth (ISBN 0-9665480-1-9)
• (1999) Irving Penn Regards The Work of Issey Miyake (ISBN 0-224-05966-1)

Books about Penn

• (2005) Irving Penn: Platinum Prints. Sarah Greenough, David Summers (ISBN 0-300-10906-7)
• (2002) Earthly Bodies: Irving Penn's Nudes, 1949-50. by Irving Penn, Maria Morris Hambourg, Metropolitan Museum of Art (ISBN 0-8212-2787-4)
• (1997) Irving Penn : A Career in Photography. Colin Westerbeck (ISBN 0-8212-2459-X)

External links

• Irving Penn: Platinum Prints at the National Gallery of Art
• Official site
• Art News Online article on a Penn photo
• Irving Penn gallery
• Irving Penn in Paris in the 50'(French)
• Irving Penn Works