Irving Penn (1917-2009)

Fine Arts LA

We've written about photographer Irving Penn from time to time, and feel compelled to share the sad news of his passing at age 92 in Manhattan.

Penn is perhaps best-known for his fashion photography, having worked for Vogue magazine early in his career. He also created famously expressive portraits of well-known subjects in natural light against simple backdrops, as well as abstracted still-life pieces. Many books have been produced both by and about Penn, and his work is on permanent display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and at the Art Institute of Chicago. The legacy of this master artist survives in the massive influence he holds over aesthetics in contemporary photography.

MORE IRVING PENN
Irving Penn: Reflections on a Favorite Lamp
PlantTherapy: Floral Print
Guess Who? An Author's Living Room

Comments (3)

I adore #2. And the other with Giselle is just gorgeous.

posted by dunklekatze on October 8th 2009 at 9:33pm
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Ok I am a photographer and I am surrounded by photo people all day, WHY AM I FINALLY HEARING ABOUT THIS NOW! I hate it when AT is my main source of news, It's just wrong. Such a great inspiration, such a great career and such a great body of work from his early years to even some of his more recent stuff. Consistence.

posted by funstraw on October 8th 2009 at 10:30pm
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agreed, funstraw. this is the first i've heard... i can't believe that he's passed, and i can't believe i didn't find out from some other news source. i even checked cnn, i figured it would make headlines. he's a legend and has always been my inspiration. he'll be missed by many.

posted by lex2190 on October 9th 2009 at 12:21am
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