Irving Penn. Centennial

24 March - 01 July 2018

On the occasion of Irving Penn's 100th birthday, the C/O Berlin is presenting a retrospective with around 240 of his photographs.

Irving Penn (1917-2009) is considered one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. His career began with Vogue magazine, for which he took numerous fashion photographs that made him internationally renowned. He also photographed still lifes and portraits. Famous personalities such as Pablo Picasso, Marlene Dietrich, Alfred Hitchcock, Salvador Dalí or Audrey Hepburn, among others, were standing in front of his lens. On his travels to Peru, New Guinea and Morocco he also portrayed people of indigenous tribes. What distinguishes Penns photographs is his love of detail and his eye for the special.

Nudes, still lifes, portraits and fashion

Around 190 photographs by the Irving Penn Foundation form the core of the exhibition. Among them are the well-known studies of Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn, Irving Penn's wife and successful photo model. Abstract female nudes, still lifes, detailed studies, portraits and, of course, fashion photography will also be on view. The exhibition was curated by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in collaboration with the Irving Penn Foundation.