Irving Penn – FESCH.TV

Irving Penn & FESCH.TV:

Irving Penn, one of the most influential fashion photographers of the 20th century, left an indelible mark on the pages of Vogue. Over his remarkable 66-year career at the magazine, he graced an astonishing 165 covers, solidifying his integral role in shaping Vogue’s identity.

Born in 1917 in Plainfield, New Jersey, to Russian Jewish parents, Penn’s passion for the arts led him to study at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art. There, he was exposed to the work of surrealist artists, and his artistic journey took a significant turn when he had the privilege of learning from Alexey Brodovitch, the renowned Art Director of Harper’s Bazaar. Brodovitch brought Penn on board as his assistant, setting the stage for Penn’s illustrious career.

After graduating in 1938, Penn worked as an art director at Saks Fifth Avenue. However, uninspired by the department store environment, he embarked on a transformative journey through the American South to Mexico. Initially intending to paint, he found himself drawn to his Rolleiflex camera, which he had purchased a few years earlier. The influence of surrealist artists like Magritte and Dali began to emerge in his early photographs.

Although the paintings from his travels were discarded, Penn discovered a more efficient way to express his vision through the lens of his camera. Upon returning to the US, he joined Vogue as an art director under Alexander Liberman. While part of his role was creating magazine layouts and concepts for other photographers, Liberman encouraged Penn to take the photographs himself. Penn’s first Vogue cover appeared on October 1st, 1943.

Despite a heart condition that prevented him from serving in the US Army, Penn volunteered for the American Field Service in 1944 and was sent overseas. Even amidst the horrors of war, his artistic eye continued to shine through. Penn’s legacy endures as a masterful photographer who forever shaped the world of fashion and visual storytelling

For more information on Irving Penn: