Irving Penn PENN & FASHION

The exhibition unfolds chronologically, retracing Irving Penn’s career from 1947 to 2008. It begins in the 1950s, with the presentation of his legendary photographs of Parisian haute couture collections such as those of Dior and Balenciaga, brought to life by the era’s greatest models, including Lisa Fonssagrives and Jean Patchett. In the 1970s, the creations of Ungaro and Courrèges and the extravagant outfits worn by Marisa Berenson or Lauren Hutton caught the photographer’s eye, followed by those of Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld in the following decade.

The exhibition also presents Penn’s unique collaboration with the Japanese designer Issey Miyake, whose sculptural garments perfectly complemented his minimalist photographic style.

Throughout the last three decades of his career, Penn maintained a consistent approach with an emphasis on the silhouette, volume, and texture.