Irving Penn

Born:: June 16, 1917, Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
Died:: October 7, 2009, New York City, New York, USA
Nationality:: American
Profession(s):: Photographer, Fashion Photographer, Portrait Photographer

Early Life and Education

Studied design, painting, and industrial arts at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art (now the University of the Arts) from 1934 to 1938, under Alexey Brodovitch.
Worked as an art director for Saks Fifth Avenue after graduation.
Spent a year in Mexico painting.

Career and Major Achievements

Began working at Vogue magazine in 1943, initially under Alexander Liberman.
Transitioned from designing covers to taking photographs for the magazine.
Became known for his minimalist aesthetic and studio still life photography.
Established a successful commercial photography studio.
Worked extensively in fashion, portraiture, and still life photography throughout his career.
His work redefined fashion photography, moving away from overtly glamorous depictions towards more austere and refined imagery.

Notable Works

Fashion photography for Vogue and other magazines.
Portrait series of notable figures, including Pablo Picasso, Marlene Dietrich, and Truman Capote.
Ethnographic photography from his travels, documenting indigenous cultures.
Still life photographs focusing on found objects and decaying subjects.
Street photography, documenting everyday life in various cities.

Legacy and Impact

Irving Penn's influence on 20th-century photography is undeniable. His refined and minimalist aesthetic revolutionized fashion photography, and his portraiture is considered iconic. An exploration of 'irving penn biography photography ideas' reveals a meticulous approach that redefined the genre.

Notable Exhibitions

"Irving Penn: Centennial" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (2017).
Retrospectives at major museums worldwide.

Publications

Moments Preserved (1960)
Worlds in a Small Room (1974)
Invented Landscapes (1987)
Numerous other monographs and exhibition catalogs.