Well, well - that he married the most beautiful woman in the world, Lisa Fossangrives-Penn, is clear at the first glance at this splendid compendium from german publisher Schirmer/Mosel. „Centennial“ - a century of work, edited in cooperation with the Metropolitan Museum New York - where the first round of exhibits is shown from 24th of April up until July 30th and then travels to London, Paris, Berlin and Munich, scheduled for 2018.
There is young Tom Wolfe, not-so-young Salvador Dali and old T. S. Eliot, all witnesses of there era. There are Indians from Cuzco in traditional garb, Close-Ups of cigarette butts, morrocan ladies in full veil - the opulent book is a journey in time and around the globe, from the depths of darkest Africa to the studio in bright daylight, from Dahome-Girls, their bodies bejeweled with scars to the hard features of Zaha Hadid, recently deceased and here eternalized. There is Haute Couture, of course, and eminent colleague Richard Avedon under a flock of silver hair - most of it - did we mention it? in brillant Black/White.
The editorials? One of the recently resigning, then Director of the Museum, Thomas P. Campbell, who fell over „une petite affaire amoureuse“. The other: „The core of things“ by Maria Morris Hambourg, overwritten with a quote of Penn: „Photography is no more, no less the present, current step in the visual history of humankind“. It is a philosopher with a camera expressing himself, with „The elegance of a cultured american with russian-jewish origins“ - and now for everyone to see in this marvel of a book.

'Centennial’ Irving Penn, 365 photographs, Schirmer/Mosel, 68 Euro

More informations at: www.schirmer-mosel.com