Irving Penn
Man Ray
1964
Gelatin silver print
18.3 × 18.3 cm
Location: France
Documents
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Invoice or proof of purchase
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Certificate of authenticity
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Other documents
About the artwork
A black and white photographic portrait captures the artist Man Ray, presenting a close-up view of his upper torso and head. The subject is depicted wearing a beret and a collared shirt, with a dark jacket or sweater. He holds a lit cigar between the fingers of his right hand, which is adorned with a ring. The composition focuses on Man Ray's gaze, directed slightly away from the viewer, conveying a contemplative or engaged expression. The lighting emphasizes the contours of his face and the texture of his skin, creating a sense of depth and three-dimensionality. The background is neutral and lightly toned, ensuring that the subject remains the central focus without distraction. The edges of the photographic print show slight irregularities, characteristic of a contact print or a print made directly from a negative, revealing the full frame.
Expert opinion
This portrait situates within Irving Penn's extensive body of work dedicated to capturing the personalities of his era. The choice of Man Ray as a subject connects two influential figures in 20th-century art and photography, adding art historical weight to the piece. Penn's approach to portraiture, characterized by its minimalist setting and direct engagement with the sitter, became a widely recognized style that influenced subsequent generations of photographers. In the art market, vintage prints by Irving Penn, especially those depicting well-known artists or cultural figures, are consistently sought after. The demand for such works is driven by their historical significance, the artist's reputation, and their aesthetic qualities. The condition of the print, its provenance, and whether it is a unique print or part of a limited edition, are factors that influence its market value.
About the artist
Irving Penn was one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. He photographed famous cultural figures, including artists such as Jasper Johns, Pablo Picasso, Louise Bourgeois and Salvador Dalí, and elevated fashion photography to an art form through his work with Vogue, to which he contributed for over six decades. Penn was known for his spare compositional style, often photographing his subjects in the natural light of the studio; his images are marked by simplicity, sophistication and tonal subtleties. Penn photographed in both grayscale and color, and also experimented with nineteenth-century printing processes.
His work has been exhibited around the world and is included in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Tate, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Moderna Museet, among others. Penn also photographed shopkeepers, nudes and still lifes. Between 1948 and 1971, he took ethnographic photographs of the communities he met on his travels. His frames sold for up to six figures at auction.
Additional info
Framed
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