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Irving Penn

Centennial
4.57 goodreads logo

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( 77 ratings, 9 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Irving Penn: Centennial honours the life and work of Irving Penn (1917–2009), a master of studio photography. Spanning nearly seventy years, the book compiles one of the largest selections of Penn's images, including iconic portraits, fashion photography, still lifes, and ethnographic studies. Essays contextualise his career within significant social and political landscapes, offering insight into his meticulous compositions and influential visual style.
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Format: Hardback
$13199
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for enthusiasts of 20th-century photography, art historians, fashion aficionados, and anyone interested in the evolution of visual culture through a pioneering American photographer's lens.

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The definitive book on the work of a virtuosic and revered American photographer

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The definitive book on the work of a virtuosic and revered American photographer

Irving Penn (1917–2009) was among the most esteemed and influential photographers of the 20th 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.

Celebrating the centennial of Penn’s birth, this lavish volume spans 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 Penn: Centennial is essential for any fan of this artist’s work or the history of 20th-century photography.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Highly praised for its comprehensive and multifaceted presentation, this volume is described by Financial Times as a vivid social chronicle of Penn’s nuanced oeuvre. The New York Times notes the book's fresh presentation of his images, while Leica Fotografie International calls it an opulent and definitive publication. Reviewers highlight its depth, subtlety, and poetic quality, making it essential for fans of photography and visual art history.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781588396181

Publisher: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 18 April 2017

Country: United States

Imprint: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Illustration: 200 color illus.

Contributors:

  • Contributions by Alexandra Dennett
  • Contributions by Philippe Garner
  • Contributions by Adam Kirsch
  • Contributions by Harald E. L. Prins
  • Contributions by Vasilios Zatse

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 254.0mm

Height: 305.0mm

Weight: 2676g

Pages: 372

About the Author

Maria Morris Hambourg is an independent curator of photography. Jeff L. Rosenheim is curator in charge of the Department of Photographs at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

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