IRVING PENN (1917–2009)

Penn's flowers series began while on assignment for Vogue, when, over seven consecutive December issues, Penn devoted each one to a particular flower. In keeping with his trademark minimalist aesthetic, Penn stripped the flower of its traditional context and associations, namely, a romantic bouquet or a traditional centerpiece. Instead, each was presented in a fresh, modern way, encouraging viewers to focus on the delicate intricacies of the filaments; the glimmer of water droplets; the wide range of colors and tonalities; and the distinct organic textures. This was Penn’s consistent methodology, which lent itself naturally to presenting something as ordinary and familiar as a flower as an extraordinary, sculptural objet d’art.