Yesterday we lost one of the art world’s greats, fashion photographer Irving Penn. Known worldwide for his many years working for Vogue, Penn’s images are marked by his “signature blend of classical elegance and cool minimalism.” His models didn’t jump or prance, but instead struck calm poses in front of plain backdrops. I have always loved the serenity of Penn’s images. They weren’t fighting to be controversial or the next big thing, but instead were decade after decade marked with his simple trademark elegance. For more on his fascinating life read The New York Times obituary here. Above, a portrait of Penn, below, a small selection of his most iconic images from Picasso to Kate Moss.
