Irving Penn, 1917–2009

Irving Penn’s unbroken stream of creative invention spanned seven decades and established an indelible standard of clarity, grace, wit, and elegance. The Museum of Modern Art has collected and exhibited his photographs since 1943, and in 1984 we were proud to present a retrospective organized by ... Read more

Irving Penn’s unbroken stream of creative invention spanned seven decades and established an indelible standard of clarity, grace, wit, and elegance. The Museum of Modern Art has collected and exhibited his photographs since 1943, and in 1984 we were proud to present a retrospective organized by his friend John Szarkowski, then head of MoMA’s Department of Photography. A selection of Penn’s outstanding photographs from the Museum’s collection is presented as a tribute to this remarkable artist.