Picture the designs of Christian Dior and Cristóbal Balenciaga. Chances are that what you see in your mind’s eye was shaped by Irving Penn, who is the subject of an exhibition at Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris running Sept. 30 to Jan. 17, 2027.
“Penn & Fashion” unfolds chronologically, starting with 1950s haute couture shot on the likes of Lisa Fonssagrives, whom he married in 1950, and Jean Patchett. The show goes on to explore the 1970s where the master photographer, who collaborated with Vogue for more than six decades, captured designs by Ungaro, Courrèges, followed by the 1980s where Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld reigned.
The final three decades of Penn’s career saw sumptuous gowns by John Galliano, the opulence of Christian Lacroix’s work and dramatic feathered pieces for Chanel catch his eye, as well as striking beauty images in Vogue in the 1990s and 2000s.
You May Also Like
A highlight in the exhibition is his 13-year collaboration with Issey Miyake, whose sculptural creations complemented the elegant simplicity of his photographic style.
Drawing mainly on the MEP and Nicola Erni collections, “Penn & Fashion” also features numerous loans from The Irving Penn Foundation and the Miyake Issey Foundation.
