- Hardcover: 192 pages
- Publisher: Bulfinch Press UK (Nov 1 1997)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 082122459X
- ISBN-13: 978-0821224595
- Product Dimensions: 30.2 x 24.4 x 2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 1.6 Kg
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #899,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Booklist
The occasion that inspired this retrospective of one of the century's most captivating and stylish photographers is Penn's donation of his professional archives and a hand-picked collection of his work to the Art Institute of Chicago. This is cause for celebration, and Westerbeck, the museum's curator of photography, and his contributors, including former Vogue editor Rosamond Bernier and anthropologist Edmund Carpenter, who represent the two extremes of Penn's photographic universe, explain why in their essays. In his fashion photographs, Penn combines glamour and wit; in his portraits of artists and writers (the series of such notables as Martha Graham, Marcel Duchamp, and Georgia O'Keeffe wedged into a cleverly constructed corner set are especially compelling), Penn reveals both the drama and the danger of the creative life; in his nudes, he discovers the body's eternal mystery; in his portraits of New Guinea tribesmen, he further explores the body as sculpture, attire as art. Even when Penn casts his eyes on something as classic as a tulip, or as commercial as cosmetics, he makes magic. Donna Seaman
Book Description
Trained as an artist, Irving Penn began photographing for Vogue in the 1940s - and went on to become one of the most versatile and accomplished image-makers of the last fifty years. His photos have become documents of the 20th century, from his portraits of the native peoples of Peru, New Guinea and Morocco to his portraits of artists and writers, from sharply stylish fashion editorials to nudes and from skilful still lifes of trash to gravity-defying still-lifes of Clinique cosmetics. The book is a landmark retrospective, showcasing 90 standout images that traverse the entire span of his career, accompanied by reflections and remembrances on Penn's work by people who have worked with him over the years. The introduction is by COLIN WESTERBECK, curator of photography at the Art Institute of Chicago. The book also includes essays by ROSAMOND BERNIER, Penn's first editor at Vogue; fashion designer ISSY MIYAKE; anthropologist EDMUND CARPENTER, Penn's advisor on his expedition to New Guinea in 1970; COLIN EISLER, professor of Fine Arts & English historian of fashion and photography MARTYN HARRISON.
n exhibition is being held at the Art Institute of Chicago to mark Penn's donation of his professional archive to the institute, along with a set of prints representing his life's work. Drawing on that collection this landmark retrospective showcases ninety standout images that traverse the entire span of his career, accompanied by remembrances and reflections on Penn's work by people who worked with him over the years.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific,
By A Customer
This review is from: Irving Penn (Hardcover)
Great book for anybody interested in Penn's wor
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews) 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Irving Penn: A Career in Photography,
By Neil Bucu "Neil" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Irving Penn (Hardcover)
Irving Penn: A Career in Photography is a book that examines the work and life of photographer Irving Penn. Several different writers and people associated with Penn have included text to describe their view of Penn and his life in photography. Colin Westerbeck, Issey Miyake, Martin Harrison, Edmund Carpenter, Rosamond Bernier, Colin Eisler, and Jennifer Jankauskas all contribute to the book. Writer and editor Colin Westerbeck invites the reader into the history of Irving Penn through a summary of Penn's life in his photo career. He begins with Penn's early fashion feature called "Flying Down to Lima" where after a case of airsickness, developed a new vision that changed his view of photography. Westerbeck also mentions Penn's different styles and renowned photo shoots including his many photos of various celebrities wedged into a narrow-angle corner he created out of theater flats, and also Penn's move to platinum prints. The remainder of the 200-page book comprises Penn's more famous photos. In total, there are 193 in the book, some which correspond to the text.Irving Penn: A Career in Photography is an excellent book for anyone interested in photography, or even a professional looking for inspiration. Though it is a large book (approximately 10" by 12") its size is fitting for a photo book so that all the images can be easily seen and appreciated. The selection of photos is also suitable in that they are some of Penn's best and most known to the photo savvy, and are also mixed in genre. The text contributed by the aforementioned people help describe and reflect Penn's photos, and also show his many styles, techniques, and views on photography. Though these stories are informative to the reader, they can also get confusing and tough to read, as some of the writers tend to overuse unnecessary wording and phrasing. However, the excellent use of text/photo relationship in design and content work well in presentation, and contributes to an overall superb book. 4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Irving Penn: A Pioneer,
By Kelley Tappero - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Irving Penn (Hardcover)
One of the most significant photographers of the twentyith century, Irving Penn's captivating photographs throughout his career are wonderfully showcased in this book. From his humble beginnings as a graphic dsigner in the 1940's to his portraits of the native peoples from the far reaches of the world-Penn's work has had a major impact on not only the world of photography but aslo the art world as a whole. This retrospective of Penn's body of work is much more thorough than expected.The graphic quality of his work really speaks to me as a graphic desiner; weather it be his rich photographs of nude women or his famous portraits of politicans, actors and fashion models. The numerous illustrations of Penn's well-known corner shot were a nice surprise in the book; many of these images are very difficult to find on the internet, it was great being able to study the nuances of the portraits up close. A beautiful and informative book that any Penn fan would love.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Photographs in a Beautiful Book,
By Ken Haggerty - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Irving Penn (Hardcover)
Very classy, clean, elegant, refined photographs. Presented beautifully. A great photo book to own if you like more classic photography.
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