Fashion Photographer Irving Penn Dies at 92
Irving Penn, "Frozen Food (with String Beans)" 1977.
Photographer Irving Penn died yesterday morning in New York City, where he lived and worked.
Though Penn became widely known at first for his fashion photography for Vogue magazine starting in the 1940s, he later gained entry to the fine-art world with his striking still lifes of cigarette butts, sidewalk detritus, and animal skulls.
But perhaps the one image I think of almost immediately upon hearing Penn's name is this 1977 photograph, "Frozen Food (with String Beans)," which lends the icy blocks of fruits and vegetables a certain elegance you'd never imagine they'd have.
Every time I open my freezer and see a package of frozen vegetables sitting there, I imagine peeling the box away from them, finding some good light, and and snapping away.
Our condolences go out to Mr. Penn's family, friends, and fans.
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3 Comments:
I read about his death yesterday. I was surprised to see it mentioned here. Wait, I'm not surprised. You guys throw in all sorts of interesting stuff that one wouldn't automatically assume you'd find here. Thanks for that. : )
arm1970 at 10:22AM on 10/08/09
I've been a fan of Irving Penn since my days in my high school darkroom, many years ago. I was sad to hear the news yesterday and thought of this photo instantly. It artfully combines two of my interests—maybe three, if you count a strange fascination I have with frozen and melting things.
Adam Kuban at 11:01AM on 10/08/09
good choice adam
norman at 4:12PM on 10/08/09