PENN, Irving - Centennial

Statement by the photographer, Irving PENN

"Photography is just the present stage of man's virtual history." (frei übersetzt, © Irving PENN, 1975)

Background information

"'Centennial' is the definitive book on the work of a virtuosic and revered American photographer. Irving PENN was among the most esteemed and influential photographers of the 20th century. Over the course of a nearly seventy-year career, he mastered a pared-down aesthetic of studio photography that is distinguished for its meticulous attention to composition, nuance, and detail.

Content

This indispensable book features one of the largest selections of Irving PENN's photographs ever compiled, including famous and beloved images as well as works that have never been published.  Celebrating the centennial of Irving PENN's birth, this lavish volume spans the entirety of his groundbreaking career. An enlightening introduction situates his work in the context of the various artistic, social, and political environments and events that affected the content of his photographs. Lively essays acquaint readers with Irving PENN's primary subjects and campaigns, including early documentary scenes and imagery; portraits; fashion; female nudes; peoples of Peru, Dahomey (Benin), New Guinea, and Morocco; still lifes; and much more.

'Irving PENN: Centennial' is essential for any fan of this artist's work or the history of 20th-century photography." (publisher's note, © Schirmer/Mosel, 2017)

About the photographer, Irving Penn

Photo books by and with works of Irving PENN