LE NOIR ET LE BLANC LEGITIME
IRVING PENN


Pendant plus de 90 ans, Irving Penn (1917-2009) a marqué l’histoire de la photographie par ses images de mode, ses natures mortes et ses portraits. Ses cimaises étaient les pages des magazines, surtout et encore Vogue, et sa production photographique très dense, une œuvre que les archivistes de la Fondation ne cesse d’exhumer, avec respect.
Cette exposition composée de tirages inédits, mais choisis et tirés sous l’œil acerbe du maître, retrace le destin de cet artiste mu par l’amour de l’art et de ses proches. Ses fameux cubes, ou les steel blocks, ont un lien passionnel avec son fils, Tom, sculpteur et président de la fondation Irving Penn. Sa femme et muse, la fameuse mannequin Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn, lui impose sa beauté et ses angles de prise de vue, la photo de mode devient portrait. Ses natures mortes relèvent de la magie et de l’icône religieuse.
À quoi se mesure le talent ? À son évidence et à sa simplicité, aurait pu répondre Irving Penn, un perfectionniste qui n’a jamais oublié que la photographie venait de la lumière, magique ! Il fut aussi un des rares de sa génération a envisager le tirage comme l’œuvre ultime, prenant un soin particulier à ses papiers et techniques, les gris n’ont jamais eu autant de subtilités, le noir et blanc sa légitimité et la couleur sa vraie nature.
La presse en parle



Christmas Gift Fashion - Jean Patchett, New York, 1949 gelatin silver print image, 7 15/16 x 7 9/16 inches paper, 8 1/4 x 7 7/8 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink from an edition of 11 print made 1984
IRVING PENN
Christmas Gift Fashion - Jean Patchett, New York, 1949
gelatin silver print
image, 7 15/16 x 7 9/16 inches
paper, 8 1/4 x 7 7/8 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink
from an edition of 11
print made 1984

IRVING PENN Girl Behind Glass (Jean Patchett), New York, 1949 vintage gelatin silver print mounted to board image and paper, 15 1/2 x 15 1/8 inches mount, 20 x 16 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink from an edition of 12 print made near to date of photograph
IRVING PENN
Girl Behind Glass (Jean Patchett), New York, 1949
vintage gelatin silver print mounted to board
image and paper, 15 1/2 x 15 1/8 inches
mount, 20 x 16 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink
from an edition of 12
print made near to date of photograph

IRVING PENN Regine in a Balenciaga Suit (A), Paris, 1950 gelatin silver print image, 7 3/8 x 7 3/8 inches paper, 10 x 8 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink from an edition of 22 print made 1984
IRVING PENN
Regine in a Balenciaga Suit (A), Paris, 1950
gelatin silver print
image, 7 3/8 x 7 3/8 inches
paper, 10 x 8 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink
from an edition of 22
print made 1984

IRVING PENN Dorian Leigh - Yoga (D), New York, 1946 vintage gelatin silver print mounted to board image and paper, 8 7/8 x 6 3/4 inches mount, 14 x 11 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink from an edition of 4 print made 1946
IRVING PENN
Dorian Leigh - Yoga (D), New York, 1946
vintage gelatin silver print mounted to board
image and paper, 8 7/8 x 6 3/4 inches
mount, 14 x 11 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink
from an edition of 4
print made 1946

IRVING PENN Woman in Moroccan Palace (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), Morocco, 1951 gelatin silver print toned in selenium and mounted to board image and paper, 15 1/2 x 15 1/4 inches mount, 19 x 19 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink from an edition of 40 print made 1992
IRVING PENN
Woman in Moroccan Palace (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), Morocco, 1951
gelatin silver print toned in selenium and mounted to board
image and paper, 15 1/2 x 15 1/4 inches
mount, 19 x 19 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink
from an edition of 40
print made 1992

IRVING PENN Women in Wartime (Dorian Leigh and Evelyn Tripp), New York, 1950 gelatin silver print mounted to board image and paper, 18 5/8 x 18 1/2 inches mount, 21 1/2 x 21 1/2 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink from an edition of 16 print made 1984
IRVING PENN
Women in Wartime (Dorian Leigh and Evelyn Tripp), New York, 1950
gelatin silver print mounted to board
image and paper, 18 5/8 x 18 1/2 inches
mount, 21 1/2 x 21 1/2 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink
from an edition of 16
print made 1984

IRVING PENN Girl Drinking (B) (Mary Jane Russell), New York, 1949 vintage gelatin silver print mounted to board image and paper, 17 5/16 x 15 9/16 inches mount, 18 1/2 x 16 7/8 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink from an edition of 5 print made 1949
IRVING PENN
Girl Drinking (B) (Mary Jane Russell), New York, 1949
vintage gelatin silver print mounted to board
image and paper, 17 5/16 x 15 9/16 inches
mount, 18 1/2 x 16 7/8 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink
from an edition of 5
print made 1949

IRVING PENN Vogue Christmas Cover (Jean Patchett), New York, 1949 gelatin silver print image, 8 3/8 x 7 5/8 inches paper, 9 x 8 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink from an edition of 11 print made 1984
IRVING PENN
Vogue Christmas Cover (Jean Patchett), New York, 1949
gelatin silver print
image, 8 3/8 x 7 5/8 inches
paper, 9 x 8 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink
from an edition of 11
print made 1984

IRVING PENN Woman with Handkerchief (Jean Patchett), New York, 1951 gelatin silver print mounted to board image, 13 1/8 x 13 3/16 inches paper and mount, 18 1/2 x 15 3/4 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink from an edition of 16 print made 1984
IRVING PENN
Woman with Handkerchief (Jean Patchett), New York, 1951
gelatin silver print mounted to board
image, 13 1/8 x 13 3/16 inches
paper and mount, 18 1/2 x 15 3/4 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink
from an edition of 16
print made 1984

IRVING PENN Vogue Fashion Photograph in Morocco (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn on pillows), 1951 vintage gelatin silver print mounted to board image, 7 1/8 x 7 1/8 inches paper, 7 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches mount, 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink from an edition of 8 print made 1951
IRVING PENN
Vogue Fashion Photograph in Morocco (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn on pillows), 1951
vintage gelatin silver print mounted to board
image, 7 1/8 x 7 1/8 inches
paper, 7 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches
mount, 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink
from an edition of 8
print made 1951

IRVING PENN Vogue Fashion Photograph (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn) (B), New York, 1949 gelatin silver print toned in selenium and mounted to board image, 13 x 12 3/4 inches paper and mount, 15 1/2 x 14 3/4 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink from an edition of 6 print made 1990
IRVING PENN
Vogue Fashion Photograph (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn) (B), New York, 1949
gelatin silver print toned in selenium and mounted to board
image, 13 x 12 3/4 inches
paper and mount, 15 1/2 x 14 3/4 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and ink
from an edition of 6
print made 1990

IRVING PENN Parade, New York, 1980 platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum image, 11 1/2 x 18 inches paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil edition #10/16 print made 1981
IRVING PENN
Parade, New York, 1980
platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum
image, 11 1/2 x 18 inches
paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil
edition #10/16
print made 1981

IRVING PENN Blast, New York, 1980 platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum image, 11 1/8 x 19 5/16 inches paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil edition #27/44 print made 1981
IRVING PENN
Blast, New York, 1980
platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum
image, 11 1/8 x 19 5/16 inches
paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil
edition #27/44
print made 1981

IRVING PENN Three Sections, New York, 1980 platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum image, 11 1/4 x 17 1/2 inches paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil edition #29/30 print made 1980
IRVING PENN
Three Sections, New York, 1980
platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum
image, 11 1/4 x 17 1/2 inches
paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil
edition #29/30
print made 1980

IRVING PENN Construction (without bolt), New York, 1980 platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum image, 11 3/8 x 16 9/16 inches paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil edition #21/28 print made 1980
IRVING PENN
Construction (without bolt), New York, 1980
platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum
image, 11 3/8 x 16 9/16 inches
paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil
edition #21/28
print made 1980

IRVING PENN Arrangement of Fifteen Pieces, New York, 1980 platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum image, 11 1/4 x 19 1/8 inches paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil edition #52/53 print made 1980
IRVING PENN
Arrangement of Fifteen Pieces, New York, 1980
platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum
image, 11 1/4 x 19 1/8 inches
paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil
edition #52/53
print made 1980

IRVING PENN Metropolis, New York, 1980 platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum image, 11 3/8 x 19 1/2 inches paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil edition #9/15 print made 1980
IRVING PENN
Metropolis, New York, 1980
platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum
image, 11 3/8 x 19 1/2 inches
paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil
edition #9/15
print made 1980
IRVING PENN
Iron Couple, New York, 1980
platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum
image, 11 5/16 x 15 9/16 inches
paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil
edition #7/17
print made 1981

IRVING PENN Iron Couple, New York, 1980 platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum image, 11 5/16 x 15 9/16 inches paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil edition #7/17 print made 1981

IRVING PENN Collapse, New York, 1980 platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum image, 11 1/4 x 19 5/16 inches paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil edition #14/23 print made 1981
IRVING PENN
Collapse, New York, 1980
platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum
image, 11 1/4 x 19 5/16 inches
paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil
edition #14/23
print made 1981

IRVING PENN Three Steel Blocks, New York, 1980 platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum image, 11 3/8 x 19 inches paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil edition #28/34 print made 1981
IRVING PENN
Three Steel Blocks, New York, 1980
platinum palladium print mounted to aluminum
image, 11 3/8 x 19 inches
paper and mount, 16 x 24 inches
signed, titled, dated and annotated verso with stamps and pencil
edition #28/34
print made 1981