Date of Birth: June 16, 1917
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Date of Death: October 7, 2009
Biography
Irving Penn was a renowned American photographer known for his fashion photography, portraits, and still lifes. Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Penn initially studied painting at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art. His career took a significant turn when he joined Vogue magazine in 1943, where he became a pivotal figure in fashion photography. Penn’s distinctive style is characterized by its simplicity and elegance, often using a minimalistic backdrop to highlight his subjects. Over the decades, he photographed some of the most famous personalities of the 20th century, including Pablo Picasso, Audrey Hepburn, and Alfred Hitchcock. Penn’s work is celebrated for its technical precision and artistic composition, making him one of the most influential photographers of his time. His remarkable career spanned over 60 years, during which he published several books and exhibited his work globally.
5 Interesting Facts about Irving Penn
1. Irving Penn was married to model Lisa Fonssagrives, who was considered the world’s first supermodel.
2. Penn was known for his meticulous preparation and innovative use of natural light in his photography.
3. He was one of the first photographers to print on platinum-palladium paper, a technique that gives photographs a rich tonal range and permanence.
4. Penn’s work extended beyond fashion; he also captured striking images of indigenous people during his travels to Peru, Dahomey (now Benin), and Morocco.
5. He was awarded the Hasselblad Award in 1985, one of the most prestigious accolades in the field of photography.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Irving Penn
1. “A good photograph is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart, and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it.”
2. “Photographing a cake can be art.”
3. “Photographing a cake can be art.”
4. “I can get obsessed by anything if I look at it long enough. That’s the curse of being a photographer.”
5. “The camera is a fragment of reality.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Irving Penn’s highest net worth was estimated to be around $50 million at the time of his death.
Children
Irving Penn and Lisa Fonssagrives had one son, Tom Penn, who became a metal designer.
Relevant Links
1. [Irving Penn Foundation](https://www.irvingpenn.org/
2. [The Art Story – Irving Penn](https://www.theartstory.org/artist/penn-irving/
4. [The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Irving Penn](https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/penn/hd_penn.htm
5. [Hasselblad Foundation – Irving Penn](https://www.hasselbladfoundation.org/wp/irving-penn/
