Photo : The Irving Penn Foundation
Penn & Fashion
Witness the perfect marriage of light and fabric through the lens of a true visionary. From the structural wonders of iconic Japanese designers to the legendary halls of Parisian couture, this showcase highlights how one man elevated commercial photography into timeless fine art. A sophisticated treat for anyone who believes fashion is as much about composition as it is about style.
Maison Européenne de la Photographie (Paris 4th)
About
The Maison Européenne de la Photographie presents Penn & Fashion, an exhibition dedicated to the iconic work of Irving Penn. From September 30, 2026, to January 17, 2027, visitors can explore the photographer's unique contribution to fashion history, spanning from his 1950s work with Dior and Balenciaga to his sculptural collaborations with Issey Miyake. Through a chronological lens, the exhibition highlights his mastery of silhouettes and textures, showcasing images that became icons of photography. Admission is paid, with tickets ranging from 0 to 13 euros, offering a comprehensive look at the evolution of fashion through Penn’s refined and minimalist artistic vision.
The exhibition unfolds in a chronological journey, following Irving Penn's career from 1947 to 2008. It begins in the 1950s, with the presentation of his legendary photographs of Parisian haute couture collections like Dior and Balenciaga, magnified by the greatest models of the era such as Lisa Fonssagrives and Jean Patchett. In the 1970s, the creations of Ungaro and Courrèges and the extravagant outfits worn by Marisa Berenson or Lauren Hutton caught the photographer's eye, followed by the creations of Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld the following decade.
The exhibition also presents the unprecedented collaboration between Irving Penn and Japanese designer Issey Miyake, whose sculptural clothing dialogues perfectly with his refined photographic style.
Over his last three decades of creation, Penn maintained a consistent line: the emphasis on silhouettes, volumes, and textures. He photographed in color the sumptuous dresses crafted by John Galliano or the opulent models of Christian Lacroix, as well as Chanel's spectacular feather headdresses, in breathtaking images.
Finally, his striking images for the beauty pages of Vogue magazine in the 1990s and 2000s testify to the creativity and modernity of an artist whose work still has parts yet to be discovered.
Always faithful to a demanding artistic vision, regardless of the context of the commission, Penn contributed to bringing art, fashion, and commerce together with unprecedented mastery. His work is characterized by an aesthetic of elegant simplicity. Each image is the result of a long process of reflection to arrive at timeless compositions transposed into sophisticated printing techniques, often becoming icons in the history of photography.
The exhibition is primarily conceived from the MEP collection and that of Nicola Erni. Assembled over the last twenty-five years, it is today one of the largest and most remarkable collections dedicated to fashion photography, covering the period from the 1930s to the present day. The exhibition also benefits from numerous exceptional loans from The Irving Penn Foundation and The Miyake Issey Foundation.
Our take on this event
Experience the legacy of Irving Penn at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie. Running from September 30, 2026, to January 17, 2027, the exhibition documents his career from 1947 to 2008. The narrative begins with his classic mid-century fashion shots featuring designs by Dior and Balenciaga, captured alongside models like Lisa Fonssagrives. The retrospective continues through the 1970s with the works of Courrèges and Ungaro, before showcasing his long-term partnership with Japanese designer Issey Miyake.
During his final decades, Penn focused on the interplay of volume and texture, producing striking color images of designs by John Galliano and Christian Lacroix, as well as editorial work for Vogue. The display draws primarily from the MEP’s own collections and the Nicola Erni collection, with additional loans provided by The Irving Penn Foundation and The Miyake Issey Foundation.
Tickets are available from 0 to 13 euros. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to examine how Penn seamlessly blended art, commerce, and photography through his signature clean, elegant aesthetic.
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