Picture Gallery

On view through January 9, 2010

Irving Penn: A Collection

This intimate exhibition showcases the astounding breadth of work by Irving Penn, ranging from dynamic fashion photographs to contemplative studies of found objects. All the works presented here have been selected by Robert Forbes, who encourages visitors to take pleasure in these images, as he has over many years. He writes:

I adore these photographs. They never cease to draw me in, and constantly teach me new ways of seeing them.

Putting this collection together over many years and living with them at home and in the office, I am convinced that Irving Penn is one of the greats of photography. He brings his mesmerizing vision to every photograph, each one cool and modern and yet imbued with a formality of a past time, always dense and yet always simple. There is empathy and compassion for his subject, and tremendous respect as well, be it person or thing. Reporting on who or what is in front of his camera, he is never aloof or dispassionate, and creates exuberant electricity every time. His is the perfect example of art and commerce working in tandem, as these are images done on assignment for Condé Nast, for use mainly in Vogue magazine. Those assignments have given the world an important body of some of the greatest works of art.

I had the extreme pleasure of knowing Irving for many years, and so it was with great sadness that we marked his death on October 7, 2009. I dedicate this show to his memory, the greatest photographer ever.