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Irving Penn
Biography
American photographer, Irving Penn was born in 1917. He is considered to be one of the most famous fashion and beauty photographers of the 20th century. 1938, New York, Irving Penn started his career as a photographer. His work was published by Vogue on the cover in 1943 ; this, was the beginning of a long partnership between Irving Penn and the fashion magazine. Around a hundred covers emerged from their union. Irving Penn signed a portrait of Picasso which became legendary. He received in 1985 the Hasselblad Prize and the Culture Prize of the German Society for Photography in 1987. Irving Penn was named one of « The World‘s10 greatest photographers ». He transformed photography with his unusual way to work with models and light. He died in 2009.
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Irving Penn
Irving Penn
Irving Penn is also known for his portraaits and still-lifes which set him apart stylistically. He published several books, such as : Moments Preserved and Worlds in a Small Room.
Irving Penn became famous for his works as a fashion photographer, those exclusively realized in his studio. Uniform backgrounds, controlled light, elegant forms, all signs that make his shots unparalleled. Most of his work was realized in black and white and he obsessed upon every details of his art. His style remains simple and uncluttered.
His works are similar to portraits, because of the importance given to the model’s character. Irving Penn had his own way to invite his model into another social context, always drawing out the real personality of his subjects. He wrote : « In general I find disappointing pictures that represent people in their natural environment. (…) So I preferred a limited task : only take care of the person, away from the incidents of his daily life, simply wearing his clothes and ornaments, isolated in my studio. This is only from the subject that I distill the image I want (…). »
This mysterious man imposed his style for over 60 years leaving behind memorable shots and a technique worthy of the greatest. Irving Penn’s photographs are exhibited in major museums all around the world.
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