Nothing ever escaped Mr. Penns eyeor his lens.

Irving Penn.Mouth(for L’Oreal), New York, 1986.

Image: 18 5/8 18 1/4 in.

Image may contain Face Head Person Photography Portrait Adult Clothing Hat People and Cap

Irving Penn.Hippie Family (Kelley), San Francisco, 1967. Platinum-palladium print. 16 5/8 × 14 3/16 in. (42.2 × 36 cm). The Irving Penn Foundation. © The Irving Penn Foundation.

(47.3 46.4 cm).

The Irving Penn Foundation.

The Irving Penn Foundation.

Image may contain Cosmetics Lipstick Body Part Mouth Person Toy Baby Head and Face

Irving Penn.Mouth(for L’Oréal), New York, 1986. Dye transfer print. Image: 18 5/8 × 18 1/4 in. (47.3 × 46.4 cm). The Irving Penn Foundation. © The Irving Penn Foundation.

Irving Penn.Rochas Mermaid Dress (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), Paris, 1950.

Image: 19 7/8 x 19 11/16 in.

(50.5 x 50 cm).

Image may contain Lisa Fonssagrives Clothing Dress Formal Wear Adult Person Wedding Fashion Gown and Evening Dress

Irving Penn.Rochas Mermaid Dress (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), Paris, 1950. Platinum-palladium print. Image: 19 7/8 x 19 11/16 in. (50.5 x 50 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Promised Gift of The Irving Penn Foundation. © Condé Nast.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Promised Gift of The Irving Penn Foundation.

(Mr. Penn alsoshot a wonderful portraitof Miyake, his handsome face shrouded in the half dark.)

Irving Penn.Two Miyake Warriors, New York, June 3, 1998.

Image may contain Adult Person Wedding Clothing and Coat

Irving Penn.Two Miyake Warriors, New York, June 3, 1998. Platinum-palladium print. 21 x 19 5/8 in. (53.4 x 49.8 cm.). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of The Irving Penn Foundation, in memory of Issey Miyake, 2022. © The Irving Penn Foundation.

21 x 19 5/8 in.

(53.4 x 49.8 cm.).

The Irving Penn Foundation.

Image may contain Janis Joplin Bob Weir Phil Lesh Sam Andrew Ron Pigpen McKernan Guitar and Musical Instrument

Irving Penn.Rock Groups (Big Brother and the Holding Company and The Grateful Dead), San Francisco, 1967. Platinum-palladium print. Image: 19 in. × 19 3/4 in. (48.3 × 50.2 cm). The Irving Penn Foundation. © The Irving Penn Foundation.

Image: 19 in.

(48.3 50.2 cm).

The Irving Penn Foundation.

Image may contain Food Food Presentation Fruit Plant Produce Bread and Pear

Irving Penn.Still Life with Watermelon, New York, 1947. Dye transfer print. 24 1/8 × 19 3/4 in. (61.3 × 50.2 cm). The Irving Penn Foundation. © Condé Nast.

The Irving Penn Foundation.

And then there are the still livesoh, those still lives!

Irving Penn.Still Life with Watermelon, New York, 1947.

Image may contain Face Head Person Photography Portrait Adult Machine Spoke Motor Motorcycle and Transportation

Irving Penn.Hells Angel (Doug), San Francisco, 1967. Gelatin silver print. Image: 18 13/16 x 19 11/16 in. (47.8 x 50 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of The Irving Penn Foundation, 2021.© The Irving Penn Foundation.

24 1/8 19 3/4 in.

(61.3 50.2 cm).

The Irving Penn Foundation.

He was a highly lauded artist in his lifetime.

He did multiple projects.

He traveled the world.

And that comes through in the pictures.

Theres an authenticity of their performances, of their cultures.

Irving Penn.Hells Angel (Doug), San Francisco, 1967.

Image: 18 13/16 x 19 11/16 in.

(47.8 x 50 cm).

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of The Irving Penn Foundation, 2021.

The Irving Penn Foundation.

This particular section of the show talks about geopolitical things and it talks about change.

Something else Irving Penn speaks to beautifully: The image as a physical object.

He was a master of the craft of photography.

They have this unbelievable physical quality.

Irving Pennis on at the de Young Museum from March 16July 21 2024.