Irving Penn: Centennial

The definitive book on the work of a virtuosic and revered American photographer
 
“ Irving Centennial . . . presents page after page of startlingly fresh images.”—Luc Sante, New York Times
 
Irving Penn (1917–2009) was among the most esteemed and influential photographers of the twentieth 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. This indispensable book features one of the largest selections of Penn’s photographs ever compiled, including famous and beloved images as well as works that have never been published, spanning 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 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 Centennial is essential for any fan of this artist’s work or the history of twentieth-century photography.
 
Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press
 
Exhibition
 
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
(April 20–July 30, 2017)
 
Grand Palais, Paris
(September 21, 2017–January 29, 2018)
 
Instituto Moreira Salles, São Paolo
(August 21–November 25, 2018)
 
de Young, Fine Art Museums, San Francisco  
(March 16–July 21, 2024)