With a career in magazines that spanned the mid-20th century heyday of print journalism and lasted through the first decade of the 21st, Irving Penn was the preeminent photographer for six decades at Vogue, where he worked right up until his death, in 2009, at age 92.
Penn’s refined and dynamic photography of models, celebrities and products like Clinique and Jell-O pudding, all shot in compositions of stunning equipoise in the cool remove of his minimal studio setups, were designed to stop traffic and cut through the clutter of magazine pages.
Penn flourished under the mentorship of two legendary art directors: Harper’s Bazaar‘s Alexey Brodovitch and Vogue‘s Alexander Liberman, both Russian émigrés like Penn’s father. Brodovitch introduced Penn to Surrealism and avant-garde photography as his teacher at the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art and hired him as his assistant at Harper’s Bazaar during the summers of 1937 and ’38. Penn bought his first camera after graduating that year. He met Liberman in 1941, passing off to the recent New York transplant his freelance art director job at Saks Fifth Avenue. Liberman returned the favor by hiring Penn at Vogue in 1943 to sketch cover concepts, later encouraging him to shoot his unconventional juxtapositions of accessories and household items himself.
Assigned to photograph some portraits in the mid-1940s, Penn took a cue from the stage-set windows at Saks. He angled two studio flats in his studio and placed his subjects, including Truman Capote, Jerome Robbins and Salvador Dalí, in the resulting tight corner, literally and psychologically. Spencer Tracy leans jauntily against the walls in his portrait, while Georgia O'Keeffe simmers straight-armed in her confinement.
Penn didn’t work well with the distractions of the outside world. In 1950, when he was instructed by Liberman to buy an evening jacket and shoot the couture shows in Paris, he managed the assignment by having the dresses brought to him. He rented a top-floor studio with great light but no electricity and photographed models, including Lisa Fonssagrives (whom he married shortly after), against a mottled gray theater curtain that he continued to use for the rest of his career. Between deliveries from Dior and Balenciaga, he began his personal project “Small Trades,” in which he had local Parisians — a knife grinder, a mailman, a cucumber seller — pose for him with tools of their trade against the same backdrop. (He extended the series in London and New York.)
While Penn made bold, reductive still lifes for advertising campaigns throughout his career, in 1972 he applied his sculptural understanding of form to the unlikeliest of subjects: cigarette butts he gathered from the streets. The Museum of Modern Art showed Penn’s cigarette butts in 1975, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibited another series of material salvaged from the street in 1977. At this time, Penn also began revisiting his earlier photographs, reprinting them at larger scale and with the more painterly quality achieved with the platinum-palladium process. In his lush, oversized platinum-palladium prints, he elevates the lowly castoffs to heroic objects worthy of archaeological scrutiny.
Find vintage Irving Penn photography on 1stDibs.
$4,900Sale Price|67% Off
Untitled (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn) (~67% OFF - LIMITED TIME ONLY)
By Irving Penn
Located in Kansas City, MO
Irving Penn Title: Untitled (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn) Medium: Glossy, fibre based paper Date: New York, circa 1949 Dimensions: 11 x 14 inches Stamped ...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$32,000Sale Price|20% Off
Still Life with Mouse, New York
By Irving Penn
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Signed, titled, dated and copyrighted 1983 on back of print. Stamped, 'Signed silver print of this negative not exceeding' and 78 written in pencil on back of print. Annotated, 'Copy...
Silver Gelatin
Still life with Watermelon, NY
By Irving Penn
Located in Miami, FL
Phillips de Pury Collection of Alain Dominique Perrin Printed 1985, One from an edition of 21 dye transfer prints Signed Irving Penn Verso Literature: Szarkowki, Irving Penn Irving...
Dye Transfer
$41,600Sale Price|25% Off
Nude No. 57 Silver Gelatin Print, Signed, Circa 1949, Edition of 12
By Irving Penn
Located in Miami, FL
The work is elegantly framed in a high-end modern frame with archival matting. 1 of no more than 12, each print differs somewhat from the others Negative and print made 1949-1950 I....
Silver Gelatin
Still life with Watermelon, NY
By Irving Penn
Located in Miami, FL
Phillips de Pury Collection of Alain Dominique Perrin Printed 1985, One from an edition of 21 dye transfer prints Signed Irving Penn Verso Literature: Szarkowki, Irving Penn Irving...
Dye Transfer
$10,000Sale Price|20% Off
Two Men in White Masks, Cuzco
By Irving Penn
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Printed in 1984. Signed, titled, dated, artist’s copyright on back of mount. Stamped ‘signed silver prints not exceeding,’ 20 written in pencil. Annotated, “Rives BFK mount’ and ‘ton...
Silver Gelatin
$22,000
Pagoda
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Pagoda 1975 Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, verso Platinum print (Edition of 49) 10 x 7.5 inches, image This platinum print is from the “Street Materials Series.” ...
Platinum
Price Upon Request
New York Still Life
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
New York Still Life, 1947/April 1980 Signed, titled, dated, numbered, and inscribed in pencil, verso Platinum-palladium print on Rives paper mo...
Platinum
![Mermaid Dress (Rochas) [Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn], Paris](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/irving-penn-photography-mermaid-dress-rochas-lisa-fonssagrives-penn-paris-for-sale/a_9323/1615324844586/Penn_Mermaid_Dress_1200_master.jpg?width=240)
![Mermaid Dress (Rochas) [Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn], Paris](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/irving-penn-photography-mermaid-dress-rochas-lisa-fonssagrives-penn-paris-for-sale-picture-2/a_9323/1615324841757/Penn_Mermaid_Dress_framed_1200_master.jpg?width=240)
Price Upon Request
Mermaid Dress (Rochas) [Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn], Paris
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Mermaid Dress (Rochas) [Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn], Paris, 1950/June 1979 Signed, titled, dated, numbered, and inscribed in pencil, verso Platinum-pallad...
Platinum
Price Upon Request
Joan Miró
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Signed, verso Various copyright and studio stamps, verso Vintage gelatin silver print This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City.
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Dior Kerchief and Glove, Paris
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is an Edition of 9 and is signed by the photographer.
Silver Gelatin
Marilyn Quiet Moment 1955 (Framed)
By Ed Feingersh
Located in London, GB
Marylin Monroe relaxes on a couch in her hotel room at the Ambassador Hotel in New York City. TITLE: MARYLIN QUIET MOMENT 1955 PHOTO: ED FEINGERSH PAPER: SILVER GELATIN RESIN PRINT...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$250
H 7.49 in W 9.49 in
Yesteryear's Wire Walker (Unidentified) – original circus photograph, 1950s
Located in Middletown, NY
Gelatin silver print mounted on board, 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. (190 x 241 mm) from the Roland Butler Collection, Press Agent, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (1930s-1960s) Roland...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
He Exudes a Powerful Fragrance Like Horses Do
By Bill Costa
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin silver print (Edition of 5) Signed and numbered, verso This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City.
Silver Gelatin
Male Nude
Located in London, GB
Fresson print, inscribed ‘LAG 17033’ (verso), 29cm x 23cm (on view), 37cm x 30.5cm (sheet size), (48cm x 41cm framed). The photograph is framed to the line and crop indicated by the photographer on the print, behind museum quality UV non-reflective glass. (A Fresson print is a type of photographic printing, created in 1899, that has been passed down in the family for four generations. Still to this day, the Fresson family keeps some elements of the process a secret but make sure it stays alive. Located in the outskirts of Paris, their workshop is the only one in the world to produce such prints.) Albin-Guillot studied drawing and painting before becoming interested in photography. In 1925, she went on to have the first one-person exhibition at the Paris Autumn Salon. She also served as president of the French Societe des Artistes Photographes and in June 1928, was included in the first independent Salon of Photography in Paris. Published in 1932, she took a series of male nudes taken for Henry de Motherlant’s La Deesse Cypris. The strongly cropped images in which the male nudes fill the entire frame accompany the author’s text about sensuality. In 1933, she collaborated with the poet Paul Valery...
Black and White
$850
H 11 in W 14 in
Vintage Silver Gelatin Photograph Print, Girls on a Beach Photo, Two Man Show
Located in Surfside, FL
Richard Lebowitz, b. 1937, American, (RISD Faculty 1964-1995, Photography; Professor Emeritus) Tom Young, b. 1951, American, (RISD MFA 1977, Photography) TIT...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$1,900
H 20 in W 16 in D 0.1 in
"Pink Harmony" Photography 20" x 16" inch Edition of 36 by Rob Woodcox
By Rob Woodcox
Located in Culver City, CA
"Pink Harmony" Photography 20" x 16" inch Edition of 36 by Rob Woodcox Hahnemuhle Torchon Matte FineArt Paper (archival) Ships in a tube 2020 Comes with COA issued by the artist ...
Archival Paper
Joan Didion, Hollywood, 1968 (Frame 33a.)
By Julian Wasser
Located in New York, NY
This is a limited edition 16 x 20 inch print of Joan Didion by photographer Julian Wasser shot for her iconic interview with TIME in 1968. Listing includes free shipping to the continental US and a 14-day return policy. Please inquire for framing options or international shipments. We offer framing services through our New York location. Joan Didion by Julian Wasser Gelatin Silver Print Paper Size: 16 x 20 inches Image Size: 11.5 x 17.5 inches Edition 9 of 15 Signed and on the back by Julian Wasser and editioned on adhesive certificate History Behind the Photograph - Julian Wasser started his career in photography in the Washington DC bureau of the Associated Press where he met and accompanied the famous news photographer Weegee – who would become a lasting influence on him. In the mid-60s Wasser moved to Los Angeles as a contract photographer for TIME, LIFE, and FORTUNE magazines and becoming internationally known as the go to guy for getting candid but memorably composed photographs. (His iconic images of Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston; Marcel Duchamp and Eve Babitz...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$640Sale Price|20% Off
H 23 in W 17 in D 0.01 in
Early Morning - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 23"x17"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young naked woman in a pool. Original gallery quality archival pigment print signed by the author. Limited edition of 24 Paper size: 24"x18" Image ...
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
$2,750
H 32 in W 24 in D 0.1 in
"Untitled 2" (En Rouge) Photography Edition 2/7 32" x 24" in by Larsen Sotelo
By Larsen Sotelo
Located in Culver City, CA
"Untitled 2" (En Rouge) Photography Edition 2/7 32" x 24" in by Larsen Sotelo Giclee (Archival Ink) print on 310G Platine Fibre Cotton Rag w/satin finish Limited Edition of 7 2020...
Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Giclée
steve - ritual
By Frank Yamrus
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin silver print Signed, dated, and numbered, verso 10 x 8 inches, sheet 7 x 7 inches, image (Edition of 10) 14 x 11 inches, sheet 10 x 10 inches, image (Edition of 10) 20 x 1...
Silver Gelatin
Sarah's BBQ, Fourth of July
By Melissa Incampo
Located in Hudson, NY
Listing is for UNFRAMED print. Inquire within for framing. Edition 1 of 21. If the exhibition piece is sold or the customer orders a different print size, the photograph is p...
Silver Gelatin
$1,100
H 17 in W 17 in D 1 in
Staircase (Square, Sepia Toned Vintage Photograph of a Spiral Staircase)
By David Halliday
Located in Hudson, NY
Sepia toned silver gelatin print, edition 4 of 25 Custom black stained wood molding with visible grain 8-ply antique white mat with AR non glare glass. 4.5 x 4.5 inches unframed, 17 x 17 inches framed This square sepia toned silver gelatin print of a Victorian spiraling staircase...
Silver Gelatin
Pear with Seeds
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Pear with Seeds, June 1993/November 1993-February 1994 Signed, titled, dated, numbered, and inscribed in pencil, verso Platinum-palladium print on Rives paper mounted to aluminum ...
Platinum
Nude No 19 (Cropped)
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Irving Penn Nude No 19 (Cropped), 1949-1950 Vintage gelatin silver print 20 × 15 7/8 in.
Silver Gelatin
Nude No 81 (Variant)
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Irving Penn Nude No 81 (Variant) (1949 -1950) Vintage gelatin silver print 19 15/16 × 15 3/4 in.
Silver Gelatin
Girl Sitting (Cameroon), 1974
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Irving Penn Girl Sitting (Cameroon), 1974, Printed November 1978 Platinum Palladium Print 20 x 20 inches Signed and numbered edition of 40 addition...
Platinum
Five Moroccan Women
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
IRVING PENN Five Moroccan Women, 1971 Platinum palladium print, printed 1979. 20 1/8 x 19 3/4 in. (51.1 x 50.2 cm) Signed, titled, dated, numbered ...
Platinum
Nude No 56 (Variant)
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Nude No 56 (Variant), 1949-1950, printed 1980 Vintage gelatin silver print paper: 19 7/8 × 15 7/8 in Image: 15 3/4 x 15 3/16 Signed and numbered edition of 17
Silver Gelatin
New Guinea man with Painted-on Glasses
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Irving Penn New Guinea man with Painted-on Glasses, 1970, Printed April 1979 Platinum Palladium Print 20 x 20 in Signed and numbered edition of 50
Platinum
Nude
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Irving Penn Nude No 141 (Variant), 1949-50, Printed 1980 Silver Gelatin Print Sheet: 19 15/16 x 15 3/4 Image: 15 5/8 x 14 3/4 Signed and numbered edition of 15 Please inquire...
Silver Gelatin
Callot Swallow-tail Dress
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Irving Penn (1917-2009) Callot Swallow-tail Dress, 1974 platinum-palladium print, printed 1978 signed, titled, dated, numbered edition of 19', in pencil, 20 x 20 inches
Platinum
Sculptors Model
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Sculptors Model, Paris 1950 platinum-palladium print, printed 1960 signed, titled, dated in pencil on verso ed 35 print size 18.5 x 11.5 inches paper size 22.25 x 17.75 inches ...
Photographic Paper
Football Face, New York
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Photographer Irving Penn (American, 1917–2009) is celebrated for his compelling portraits, scenes, and still lifes, in genres ranging from fashion to travel photography. Born in Plai...
Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I, New York
By Irving Penn
Located in New York, NY
Photographer Irving Penn (American, 1917–2009) is celebrated for his compelling portraits, scenes, and still lifes, in genres ranging from fashion to travel photography. Born in Plai...