Irving Penn

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Photograph of a single green and pink thistle against a white background.

Irving Penn: Flowers

Irving Penn: Flowers

Irving Penn’s photographs of flowers, begun in 1967 and continued through the 2000s, transform botanical subjects into elegant studies of form, texture, and color, isolating each bloom against a neutral background. Initially photographed for Vogue, the images capture both the vitality and–with flowers that have passed their prime–the impermanence of beauty.

Photograph of a single green and pink thistle against a white background. — Bull Thistle: Cirsium Vulgare, New York, ca. 1973 / printed 2007

inkjet print, 21-7/8 x 16-7/8 inches (sheet & mount) [55.6 x 42.9 cm], edition of 8

Photograph of a two closed lily buds, covered with droplets of water, against a white background. — Imperial Pink Bud, Imperial Gold Bud, New York, ca.1971 / printed 2007

inkjet print, 16-7/8 x 21-7/8 inches (sheet & mount) [42.9 x 55.6 cm]

Photograph of a red poppy flower against a white background. — Iceland Poppy / Papaver nudicaule (B), New York, 2006

inkjet print, 20 x 22-5/8 inches (sheet & mount) [50.8 x 57.5 cm], edition of 9

Photograph of a single faded red poppy flower with a down-turned bud against a white background. — Single Oriental Poppy (C), New York, 1968 / printed 2007

inkjet print, 19 x 13 inches (sheet & mount) [48.3 x 33 cm], edition of 12

Photograph of an open yellow orchid flower against a white background. — Orchid: Rhyncholaelia Digbyana, New York, 1969 / printed 1990

dye transfer print, 19-3/8 x 22-3/4 inches (sheet) [49.2 x 57.8 cm], edition of 20

Photograph of a single red rose against a white background. — Rose, Colour Wonder, London, ca. 1970 / printed 1990

dye transfer print, 22-7/8 x 19-1/2 inches (sheet) [58.1 x 49.5 cm], edition of 35

Photograph of a single down-turned cyclamen bud, covered with water droplets, against a white background. — Persian Violet Cyclamen / Cyclamen persicum, New York, ca. 1973 / printed 2006

inkjet print, 21 x 13-7/8 inches (sheet & mount) [53.3 x 35.2 cm], edition of 7

Photograph of a silhouetted dandelion, covered with water droplets, against a white background. — Dandelion / Taraxacum officinale, New York, ca. 1973 / printed 2006

inkjet print, 22 x 17-5/8 inches (sheet & mount) [55.9 x 44.8 cm], edition of 18

Photograph of a two tulip stamens, with faded and dropping petals, against a white background. — Tulip / Tulipa: China Pink, New York, 2006 / printed 2006

inkjet print, 24 x 19 inches (sheet & mount) [61 x 48.3 cm], edition of 14

Photograph of a pale orange lily flower against a white background. — Lily: Melridge, New York, 1971 / printed 2007

inkjet print, 18-3/8 x 22-5/8 inches (sheet & mount) [46.7 x 57.5 cm], edition of 5

Photograph of a single green and pink thistle against a white background.

Irving PennBull Thistle: Cirsium Vulgare, New York

ca. 1973 / printed 2007

inkjet print, 21-7/8 x 16-7/8 inches (sheet & mount) [55.6 x 42.9 cm], edition of 8

"*" indicates required fields

Photograph of a two closed lily buds, covered with droplets of water, against a white background.

Irving PennImperial Pink Bud, Imperial Gold Bud, New York

ca.1971 / printed 2007

inkjet print, 16-7/8 x 21-7/8 inches (sheet & mount) [42.9 x 55.6 cm]

"*" indicates required fields

Photograph of a red poppy flower against a white background.

Irving PennIceland Poppy / Papaver nudicaule (B), New York

2006

inkjet print, 20 x 22-5/8 inches (sheet & mount) [50.8 x 57.5 cm], edition of 9

"*" indicates required fields

Photograph of a single faded red poppy flower with a down-turned bud against a white background.

Irving PennSingle Oriental Poppy (C), New York

1968 / printed 2007

inkjet print, 19 x 13 inches (sheet & mount) [48.3 x 33 cm], edition of 12

"*" indicates required fields

Photograph of an open yellow orchid flower against a white background.

Irving PennOrchid: Rhyncholaelia Digbyana, New York

1969 / printed 1990

dye transfer print, 19-3/8 x 22-3/4 inches (sheet) [49.2 x 57.8 cm], edition of 20

"*" indicates required fields

Photograph of a single red rose against a white background.

Irving PennRose, Colour Wonder, London

ca. 1970 / printed 1990

dye transfer print, 22-7/8 x 19-1/2 inches (sheet) [58.1 x 49.5 cm], edition of 35

"*" indicates required fields

Photograph of a single down-turned cyclamen bud, covered with water droplets, against a white background.

Irving PennPersian Violet Cyclamen / Cyclamen persicum, New York

ca. 1973 / printed 2006

inkjet print, 21 x 13-7/8 inches (sheet & mount) [53.3 x 35.2 cm], edition of 7

"*" indicates required fields

Photograph of a silhouetted dandelion, covered with water droplets, against a white background.

Irving PennDandelion / Taraxacum officinale, New York

ca. 1973 / printed 2006

inkjet print, 22 x 17-5/8 inches (sheet & mount) [55.9 x 44.8 cm], edition of 18

"*" indicates required fields

Photograph of a two tulip stamens, with faded and dropping petals, against a white background.

Irving PennTulip / Tulipa: China Pink, New York

2006 / printed 2006

inkjet print, 24 x 19 inches (sheet & mount) [61 x 48.3 cm], edition of 14

"*" indicates required fields

Photograph of a pale orange lily flower against a white background.

Irving PennLily: Melridge, New York

1971 / printed 2007

inkjet print, 18-3/8 x 22-5/8 inches (sheet & mount) [46.7 x 57.5 cm], edition of 5

"*" indicates required fields