Irving Penn is one of my favorite artists and I am sad to hear of his passing. I saw a retrospective of his work at the Chicago Art Institute, probably 10 years ago and was blown away by so many of his photographs. In particular, this image of Miles Davis' hand, in which you can see every line in his palm.
There was also an image from his nude series of the model's vagina, which has stayed with me ever since. My experience up to this point with works of art of women and vaginas done by men made me embarrassed and uncomfortable in their sex and taboo. I could not look at them without being uncomfortable and often felt they didn't have much more purpose than to shock.
Although Penn's image was taken from the same familiar male perspective: directly from between her legs, Penn's image with it's emphasis on light and shadows made it somehow not sexual to me but a thing of beauty to be looked at with awe and wonder and no shame. I could have contemplated it for hours.
It was so lovely and abstract that it didn't hit you immediately what you were looking at it, but once you recognized it, you couldn't help but look closer.
Aw damn. I have adored and been fascinated with Irving Penn's work since I was a girl. I will miss him every month when I turn to Jeffrey Steingarten's monthly article. I loved the photo illustrations he created to accompany the articles. Even years later I can still recall many of those images.
@keldo: I agree, very dreamy. On Mad Men last week there was a sultry summer night, with fans on at the Draper house, and kids chasing fireflies..nicely evocative and this picture reminded me of that a bit.
I saw a show of his photographs of authors -- like Colette and Truman Capote (pictured here!), among dozens of others -- at the Morgan Library a year or two ago; they were great. The kinds of photographs you can stare at for hours.
I am having a brain stall at the moment, but he does all the great silo food shots in Vogue, right? If so, I am going to miss those. They were always my favorite part of the magazine, even though I never read the articles attached.
Christy Turlington was always my favourite supermodel - she's soooo beautiful, and got a delightfully silly, fun smile. And she seems smart too, and sensible.
She looks so lovely in 12. Even though I was around for the supermodel era (late 80s/early 90s?), Cindy and Naomi dominated my consciousness, so I feel like I'm almost re-discovering Christy now. She always seemed serene and classy in that not-so-classy of eras.
Okay, a little off topic, but I am NOT feeling this new gallery layout. I have to scroll down to see all the thumbs if I want to jump out of order. There's not way to run them in that new right-sidebar area so we can see both large image and thumbs above the digital-fold?
You know, I love the Turl. And her Sundari skin care. But between the little teen girl who was probably molested by that priest, and the smack the Surgeon General is taking for *gasp* being a double digt size, despite practically being a candidate for sainthood and brilliant doctor ... I'm just not into it today. *sigh*
@Rooo sez BISH PLZ: I think it is in these kinds of articles that Jezebel most epitomizes the schizophrenic preoccupation with women's bodies that our culture embraces. We worship the tall beautiful women with unimaginably low body weights while at the same time griping about other people judging women for being overweight.
And we do this on the same day at nearly the same time. It makes my head spin.
I know we must defend an overweight woman who has been nominated to be our health czar in an era where obesity is nearly a crime and is one of the most severe health issues that we face as a nation. Naturally she's an exception to the fat is bad rule because she is brilliant and successful.
But what about overweight women who are not brilliant and successful? They are "the little houses"" in the flyover states I guess.
But then we also must oooooh and aaaaaah about the women that are of a very specific and narrow body type and continue to refer to them as "models" of what the rest of us should be. Goddess help us if we point out that these women are probably not healthy either although the occasional "behind the scenes" article supports and encourages this belief.
And the message is always that we are not good enough.
@Tart of Darkness: And yet, Christy Turlington has not ever been scary thin. I think she has always been a good example of a healthy body. Her boobs are woman real, her bottom is ashtanga real and !gasp! her intelligence is her own. She's the classic, pre-Kate Moss/wafer chic model body.
@Tart of Darkness: I get what you're saying, but speaking of Ms. Turlington specifically, she is using her success to help the women of the world. She is in the process of completing her masters in public health, has just directed a documentary about the tragic state of maternal care in various countries and she is working with CARE (I believe) to help improve the care that pregnant women around the world receive. It kinda bites that a less genetically blessed woman achieving the same successes wouldn't be lauded by and on the cover of Vogue, but I give major props to Christy for not buying into the bullshit and a million props to her for heeding the call to service
@mariamariamaria: She works with CARE? That is so awesome. I donate tons of money to them because I believe so much in what they are doing. Good for her.
@mariamariamaria: You are absolutely correct about how wonderful she is for devoting her fame to help others and walking the walk. I admire that tremendously!! So why is Jez honoring her with a retrospective of photos of her outside self?
She was always my favorite sup. So pretty and seemingly down to earth. I saw her at a concert a couple of years ago and she is seriously the most gorgeous person I've ever seen up close. Just lovely.
10/08/09
There was also an image from his nude series of the model's vagina, which has stayed with me ever since. My experience up to this point with works of art of women and vaginas done by men made me embarrassed and uncomfortable in their sex and taboo. I could not look at them without being uncomfortable and often felt they didn't have much more purpose than to shock.
Although Penn's image was taken from the same familiar male perspective: directly from between her legs, Penn's image with it's emphasis on light and shadows made it somehow not sexual to me but a thing of beauty to be looked at with awe and wonder and no shame. I could have contemplated it for hours.
It was so lovely and abstract that it didn't hit you immediately what you were looking at it, but once you recognized it, you couldn't help but look closer.
His work was art.
10/08/09
10/08/09
10/08/09
A lovely appreciation of Penn, Jenna. Thanks.
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10/08/09
And yes, I smoke.
10/08/09
(I like to pretend I have a smoking room. Where cognac is served.)
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10/08/09
10/07/09
of his photos at the Getty. It is really
wonderful.
10/07/09
10/07/09
07/16/09
07/15/09
Okay, a little off topic, but I am NOT feeling this new gallery layout. I have to scroll down to see all the thumbs if I want to jump out of order. There's not way to run them in that new right-sidebar area so we can see both large image and thumbs above the digital-fold?
07/15/09
07/15/09
*sigh*
07/15/09
07/16/09
And we do this on the same day at nearly the same time. It makes my head spin.
I know we must defend an overweight woman who has been nominated to be our health czar in an era where obesity is nearly a crime and is one of the most severe health issues that we face as a nation. Naturally she's an exception to the fat is bad rule because she is brilliant and successful.
But what about overweight women who are not brilliant and successful? They are "the little houses"" in the flyover states I guess.
But then we also must oooooh and aaaaaah about the women that are of a very specific and narrow body type and continue to refer to them as "models" of what the rest of us should be. Goddess help us if we point out that these women are probably not healthy either although the occasional "behind the scenes" article supports and encourages this belief.
And the message is always that we are not good enough.
07/16/09
07/17/09
07/17/09
07/17/09
07/15/09
07/15/09