Noted Fashion Photographer

October 7, 2009
Irving Penn will forever be regarded as one of the 20th century's most important photographers. Having worked at "Vogue" magazine for the better part of his career, it was Penn's creativity as a portrait artist that earned him particular acclaim and notoriety within the fashion and photographic arts communities. Among those who have been immortalized by Penn's iconic lens were Truman Capote, Marlene Dietrich and Pablo Picasso. Barbra Streisand sat for Penn on two occasions. Both were for "Vogue" magazine fashion spreads that were published in December 1964 & August 1965. Images such as the one shown above ("Vogue" August 1, 1965) demonstrate Penn's mastery of his camera in capturing some the most memorable of Streisand portraitures.

Penn, who was 92 when he passed away at his home in New York City, had his work showcased around the world. The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. acquired some of his works in 1990. In 1996, Penn donated a major portion of his portfolio to the Art Institute of Chicago. The Metropolitan Museum in New York hosted a special exhibition of his photographs in 2002.

The Getty Museum in Los Angeles is currently showcasing some of Penn's earlier, more experimental (non-fashion) photographs (called the Small Trade series) in an exhibition that concludes on January 10, 2010.