Sculptor's Model, Paris

1950

Marries Lisa Fonssagrives

In 1950 Penn and Lisa Fonssagrives marry at Chelsea Register Office; in the same year he photographs his wife in “Harlequin Dress”.

1950

Married: Lisa Fonssagrives

1950s

His own studio and advertising photography

In the 1950s Penn founds his own studio in New York and begins making advertising photographs; over the years his list of clients grows to include General Foods, De Beers, Issey Miyake and Clinique.

1952

Birth of his son Tom

Two years after the wedding Lisa gives birth to their son Tom Penn, who will become a metal designer.

1960

The book “Moments Preserved”

Penn’s pivotal book “Moments Preserved” is published; until then his photographs had been seen almost exclusively in reproduction within the glossy pages of magazines.

1975

Exhibitions in New York, Turin and London

In 1975 come the exhibition “Irving Penn: Recent Works, Photographs of Cigarettes” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, “I Platini di Irving Penn: 25 Anni di Fotografia” at the Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna in Turin and “Irving Penn: Platinum Plates” at The Photographers’ Gallery in London.