Irving Penn

Irving Penn was an acclaimed American photographer known for his innovative and influential contributions to the fields of fashion, portraiture, and still-life photography.

Biography of Irving Penn

Irving Penn was born in 1917 in Plainfield, New Jersey. He attended Abraham Lincoln High School, where he studied graphic design with Leon Friend.

After completing high school, Irving Penn pursued his artistic aspirations at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art. There, he delved into various disciplines, including drawing, painting, graphics, and industrial arts.

During his time at the Philadelphia Museum School, Penn's talent and dedication caught the attention of Alexey Brodovitch. As a result, Penn had a remarkable opportunity to work alongside Brodovitch at Harper's Bazaar, a prestigious fashion magazine. Even as a student, Penn made a significant impact, with several of his drawings published in the magazine.

In 1940, Penn assumed Brodovitch's position as the art director at Saks Fifth Avenue. After a fruitful year in this role, Irving Penn felt a strong urge to pursue his artistic endeavors. He decided to leave his position and embark on a transformative journey, during which he painted and took photographs in Mexico and the United States.

Upon returning to New York, Penn's talent and dedication were recognized once again, this time by Alexander Liberman, the esteemed art director of Vogue magazine. Impressed by Penn's artistic vision, Liberman offered him a role as an associate in Vogue's Art Department.

In October 1943, Irving Penn achieved a significant milestone in his career when his first photographic cover graced the pages of Vogue magazine.

Around the same time, the art department of the Office of War Information in London offered him a prestigious position as an "artist-photographer." However, instead of accepting the London position, he volunteered with the American Field Service. In July 1945, he was transferred from Italy to India. During his time in India, he used his skills to photograph soldiers, medical operations, and everyday camp life for the American Field Service (AFS).

After fulfilling his duties in India, Penn returned to New York in November 1945.

Penn continued to work at Vogue, photographing covers, portraits, still lifes, fashion, and photographic essays. In the 1950s, he established his own studio in New York. 

Irving Penn's career spanned over six decades, and he remained active and passionate about his craft until his death on October 7, 2009, in New York City.

Irving Penn's art style

Irving Penn developed a unique and distinctive style characterized by simplicity, elegance, and meticulous attention to detail. 

His artistic prowess extended beyond his skillful use of monochromatic backdrops, which became a hallmark of his style. With these backdrops in shades of black, white, or gray, Penn achieved complete control over the lighting conditions in his studio, enabling him to create a visual simplicity that accentuated the essence of his photographs.

With this technique, Penn photographed many people: from literary giants like John Hersey and W.H. Auden to renowned cultural figures such as Martha Graham, Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso, etc.

In 1964, Irving Penn embarked on a new artistic exploration, delving into the captivating world of platinum printing. Intrigued by the antiquated platinum process, Penn was captivated by its unique ability to render gradations between pure white and absolute black. 

In addition to his fashion and portrait work, Penn excelled in still-life photography. By isolating everyday items and exploring their textures, shapes, and colors, Penn revealed the beauty that could be found in the simplest of things.

Recognition of Irving Penn

Irving Penn's exceptional body of work has earned wide recognition, and his photographs are treasured in prestigious collections worldwide. His artworks can be found in renowned institutions, such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Irving Penn Foundation in New York.

Irving Penn's remarkable photographs have also been immortalized in printed collections: "Moment Preserved" (1960), "Worlds in a Small Room" (1974), "People in Passage" (1992), and "New and Unseen" ( 1999).