Irving Penn: Beyond Beauty

This catalogue compiles 161 of Penn’s iconic images, including a number of unpublished works. It features photographs from all stages of his career, including street scenes from the late 1930s, celebrity portraits, Parisian fashion photographs, and more private studio images. Merry A. Foresta’s essay introduces this photographer to a younger generation and delves into Penn’s use of photography to respond to social and cultural change, speaking to the depths of human existence.

The book was published on the occasion of the exhibition 'Irving Penn: Beyond Beauty', which was held at Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC from 23 October 2015 to 20 March 2016.