Penn & Fashion

To mark its 30th anniversary, the MEP is dedicating a major exhibition to Irving Penn (1917–2009), one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century.

A vision that transformed fashion photography

Spanning from 1947 to 2008, the exhibition traces more than sixty years of creative work and highlights a body of work that has left a lasting mark on the history of fashion. A long-standing contributor to Vogue magazine, Penn developed an instantly recognisable aesthetic, based on the simplicity of his settings, the rigour of his composition and a particular focus on silhouettes, fabrics and volumes.
Bringing together prints from, amongst others, the collections of the MEP, the Nicola Erni Collection and The Irving Penn Foundation, the exhibition showcases some of his most iconic images. Visitors will encounter the faces of Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn and Jean Patchett, as well as the creations of leading fashion designers such as Balenciaga, Dior and Yves Saint Laurent. A significant section also highlights the close ties Irving Penn maintained with Paris, where, from the 1950s onwards, he photographed haute couture collections in a studio bathed in natural light.

When fashion becomes an art form

As visitors move through the galleries, fashion emerges as a true arena for artistic exploration. From Balenciaga’s sculptural lines to the creations of Issey Miyake – whose collaboration with Penn is one of the exhibition’s highlights – each image reveals the photographer’s ability to go beyond a simple editorial commission to create timeless works.
By bringing together photographs, facsimiles of Vogue and exceptional loans, the Penn & Fashion exhibition sheds light on the legacy of an artist who, with rare elegance, brought art, fashion and the image together. It is an opportunity to rediscover a vision whose influence continues to span generations.

Let yourself be swept away by the exhibitions in the Paris Region.