Overview

"This is a magnificently illustrated volume exploring the acclaimed ""Small Trades"" series from renowned photographer Irving Penn. Photographer Irving Penn (b. 1917) is renowned the world over for his innovative contributions to portrait, still life, and fashion photography during a career that has spanned six decades. In 1950, ""Vogue"" magazine sent Penn on an assignment to photograph the workers of Paris, and thus his monumental work ""Small Trades"" began. Between 1950 and 1951, Penn travelled between Paris, London, and New York to produce an extensive photographic portrait of each city's skilled tradespeople in their work clothes, carrying the tools of their professions. This generously illustrated volume brings together more than 200 unique images from ""Small Trades"", alongside essays discussing the history and significance of the series - to both Penn's career and the history of photography - as well as a fascinating interview with Edmonde Charles-Roux, the chief editor for French ""Vogue"" from 1952-1966, who assisted Penn on his assignment to Paris in 1950."

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9780892369966

Table of Contents

Reviews

<p>&quot;The book is a work of art in its own right; an object of beauty, and a Noah's ark for vanishing trades.&quot;&mdash; The Jewish Chronicle

The book is a work of art in its own right; an object of beauty, and a Noah's ark for vanishing trades. The Jewish Chronicle

More than 200 prints are reproduced in this finely executed tribute to a master. Professional Photographer Penn . . . was a master of portrait photography. . . . This collection is of ordinary, anonymous workers plumbers, bakers, house painters, and street artists in Paris, London, and New York.Each and every one is compelling. The Philadelphia Inquirer Rather than picture [his subjects] where they worked, Penn brought them into his studio to pose like models against a sooty gray paper background. The smoky light of his black-and-white prints makes them look like living sculpture, carved into individuality by their life experiences and their times. San Francisco Chronicle The broadest view yet of one of Penn s most important and appealing early projects. . . . Small Trades has the heft of history it s a sociologist s dream but it s also one of the year s most fascinating books of fashion photographs. Photograph Magazine The nobility and individuality of Penn s subjects, and the simple setting, enhanced only by the sitters tools of their trades, became staples of Penn s equanimous style. Published by Vogue in 1951, the photographs have now been collected in a coffee-table book, which is both a paean and swan song to a lost era. British Vogue These photographs . . . are respectful, consistent, beautiful, intelligent, daring. And unmissable. A brilliant catalogue. Financial Times This magnificent book, with its outstanding images, is a pleasure to hold. Choice The book is a work of art in its own right; an object of beauty, and a Noah's ark for vanishing trades. The Jewish Chronicle These photographs . . . are respectful, consistent, beautiful, intelligent, daring. And unmissable. A brilliant catalogue. -- Financial Times More than 200 prints are reproduced in this finely executed tribute to a master. -- Professional Photographer Penn . . . was a master of portrait photography. . . . This collection is of ordinary, anonymous workers--plumbers, bakers, house painters, and street artists in Paris, London, and New York. Each and every one is compelling. -- The Philadelphia Inquirer Rather than picture [his subjects] where they worked, Penn brought them into his studio to pose like models against a sooty gray paper background. The smoky light of his black-and-white prints makes them look like living sculpture, carved into individuality by their life experiences and their times. -- San Francisco Chronicle The broadest view yet of one of Penn's most important and appealing early projects. . . . Small Trades has the heft of history--it's a sociologist's dream--but it's also one of the year's most fascinating books of fashion photographs. -- Photograph Magazine The nobility and individuality of Penn's subjects, and the simple setting, enhanced only by the sitters' tools of their trades, became staples of Penn's equanimous style. Published by Vogue in 1951, the photographs have now been collected in a coffee-table book, which is both a paean and swan song to a lost era. --British Vogue This magnificent book, with its outstanding images, is a pleasure to hold. -- Choice Penn . . . was a master of portrait photography. . . . This collection is of ordinary, anonymous workers-plumbers, bakers, house painters, and street artists in Paris, London, and New York. Each and every one is compelling. - The Philadelphia Inquirer More than 200 prints are reproduced in this finely executed tribute to a master. - Professional Photographer Rather than picture [his subjects] where they worked, Penn brought them into his studio to pose like models against a sooty gray paper background. The smoky light of his black-and-white prints makes them look like living sculpture, carved into individuality by their life experiences and their times. - San Francisco Chronicle The broadest view yet of one of Penn's most important and appealing early projects. . . . Small Trades has the heft of history-it's a sociologist's dream-but it's also one of the year's most fascinating books of fashion photographs. - Photograph Magazine The nobility and individuality of Penn's subjects, and the simple setting, enhanced only by the sitters' tools of their trades, became staples of Penn's equanimous style. Published by Vogue in 1951, the photographs have now been collected in a coffee-table book, which is both a paean and swan song to a lost era. -British Vogue These photographs . . . are respectful, consistent, beautiful, intelligent, daring. And unmissable. A brilliant catalogue. - Financial Times This magnificent book, with its outstanding images, is a pleasure to hold. - Choice The book is a work of art in its own right; an object of beauty, and a Noah's ark for vanishing trades. - The Jewish Chronicle

The book is a work of art in its own right; an object of beauty, and a Noah's ark for vanishing trades. The Jewish Chronicle This magnificent book, with its outstanding images, is a pleasure to hold. Choice The broadest view yet of one of Penn s most important and appealing early projects. . . . Small Trades has the heft of history it s a sociologist s dream but it s also one of the year s most fascinating books of fashion photographs. Photograph Magazine More than 200 prints are reproduced in this finely executed tribute to a master. Professional Photographer Rather than picture [his subjects] where they worked, Penn brought them into his studio to pose like models against a sooty gray paper background. The smoky light of his black-and-white prints makes them look like living sculpture, carved into individuality by their life experiences and their times. San Francisco Chronicle Penn . . . was a master of portrait photography. . . . This collection is of ordinary, anonymous workers plumbers, bakers, house painters, and street artists in Paris, London, and New York.Each and every one is compelling. The Philadelphia Inquirer These photographs . . . are respectful, consistent, beautiful, intelligent, daring. And unmissable. A brilliant catalogue. Financial Times The nobility and individuality of Penn s subjects, and the simple setting, enhanced only by the sitters tools of their trades, became staples of Penn s equanimous style. Published by Vogue in 1951, the photographs have now been collected in a coffee-table book, which is both a paean and swan song to a lost era. British Vogue These photographs . . . are respectful, consistent, beautiful, intelligent, daring. And unmissable. A brilliant catalogue. -- Financial Times Penn . . . was a master of portrait photography. . . . This collection is of ordinary, anonymous workers--plumbers, bakers, house painters, and street artists in Paris, London, and New York. Each and every one is compelling. -- The Philadelphia Inquirer This magnificent book, with its outstanding images, is a pleasure to hold. -- Choice Rather than picture [his subjects] where they worked, Penn brought them into his studio to pose like models against a sooty gray paper background. The smoky light of his black-and-white prints makes them look like living sculpture, carved into individuality by their life experiences and their times. -- San Francisco Chronicle More than 200 prints are reproduced in this finely executed tribute to a master. -- Professional Photographer The nobility and individuality of Penn's subjects, and the simple setting, enhanced only by the sitters' tools of their trades, became staples of Penn's equanimous style. Published by Vogue in 1951, the photographs have now been collected in a coffee-table book, which is both a paean and swan song to a lost era. --British Vogue The broadest view yet of one of Penn's most important and appealing early projects. . . . Small Trades has the heft of history--it's a sociologist's dream--but it's also one of the year's most fascinating books of fashion photographs. -- Photograph Magazine The book is a work of art in its own right; an object of beauty, and a Noah's ark for vanishing trades. - The Jewish Chronicle The broadest view yet of one of Penn's most important and appealing early projects. . . . Small Trades has the heft of history-it's a sociologist's dream-but it's also one of the year's most fascinating books of fashion photographs. - Photograph Magazine This magnificent book, with its outstanding images, is a pleasure to hold. - Choice More than 200 prints are reproduced in this finely executed tribute to a master. - Professional Photographer Rather than picture [his subjects] where they worked, Penn brought them into his studio to pose like models against a sooty gray paper background. The smoky light of his black-and-white prints makes them look like living sculpture, carved into individuality by their life experiences and their times. - San Francisco Chronicle Penn . . . was a master of portrait photography. . . . This collection is of ordinary, anonymous workers-plumbers, bakers, house painters, and street artists in Paris, London, and New York. Each and every one is compelling. - The Philadelphia Inquirer These photographs . . . are respectful, consistent, beautiful, intelligent, daring. And unmissable. A brilliant catalogue. - Financial Times The nobility and individuality of Penn's subjects, and the simple setting, enhanced only by the sitters' tools of their trades, became staples of Penn's equanimous style. Published by Vogue in 1951, the photographs have now been collected in a coffee-table book, which is both a paean and swan song to a lost era. -British Vogue

"More than 200 prints are reproduced in this finely executed tribute to a master. ""Professional Photographer"""" Penn . . . was a master of portrait photography. . . . This collection is of ordinary, anonymous workers plumbers, bakers, house painters, and street artists in Paris, London, and New York.Each and every one is compelling. ""The """"Philadelphia Inquirer"""" Rather than picture [his subjects] where they worked, Penn brought them into his studio to pose like models against a sooty gray paper background. The smoky light of his black-and-white prints makes them look like living sculpture, carved into individuality by their life experiences and their times. ""San Francisco Chronicle"""" The broadest view yet of one of Penn s most important and appealing early projects. . . . ""Small Trades ""has the heft of history it s a sociologist s dream but it s also one of the year s most fascinating books of fashion photographs. ""Photograph Magazine"""" The nobility and individuality of Penn s subjects, and the simple setting, enhanced only by the sitters tools of their trades, became staples of Penn s equanimous style. Published by ""Vogue ""in 1951, the photographs have now been collected in a coffee-table book, which is both a paean and swan song to a lost era. British ""Vogue"""" These photographs . . . are respectful, consistent, beautiful, intelligent, daring. And unmissable. A brilliant catalogue. ""Financial Times"" """""" This magnificent book, with its outstanding images, is a pleasure to hold. ""Choice"""" ""The book is a work of art in its own right; an object of beauty, and a Noah's ark for vanishing trades."" ""The Jewish Chronicle"""" ""These photographs . . . are respectful, consistent, beautiful, intelligent, daring. And unmissable. A brilliant catalogue.""--""Financial Times"" """" ""More than 200 prints are reproduced in this finely executed tribute to a master.""--""Professional Photographer"" ""Penn . . . was a master of portrait photography. . . . This collection is of ordinary, anonymous workers--plumbers, bakers, house painters, and street artists in Paris, London, and New York. Each and every one is compelling.""--""The """"Philadelphia Inquirer"" ""Rather than picture [his subjects] where they worked, Penn brought them into his studio to pose like models against a sooty gray paper background. The smoky light of his black-and-white prints makes them look like living sculpture, carved into individuality by their life experiences and their times.""--""San Francisco Chronicle"" ""The broadest view yet of one of Penn's most important and appealing early projects. . . . ""Small Trades ""has the heft of history--it's a sociologist's dream--but it's also one of the year's most fascinating books of fashion photographs.""--""Photograph Magazine"" ""The nobility and individuality of Penn's subjects, and the simple setting, enhanced only by the sitters' tools of their trades, became staples of Penn's equanimous style. Published by ""Vogue ""in 1951, the photographs have now been collected in a coffee-table book, which is both a paean and swan song to a lost era.""--British ""Vogue"" ""This magnificent book, with its outstanding images, is a pleasure to hold."" --""Choice""   “Penn . . . was a master of portrait photography. . . . This collection is of ordinary, anonymous workers—plumbers, bakers, house painters, and street artists in Paris, London, and New York.  Each and every one is compelling.”—""The """"Philadelphia Inquirer""  “More than 200 prints are reproduced in this finely executed tribute to a master.”—""Professional Photographer""  “Rather than picture [his subjects] where they worked, Penn brought them into his studio to pose like models against a sooty gray paper background.  The smoky light of his black-and-white prints makes them look like living sculpture, carved into individuality by their life experiences and their times.”—""San Francisco Chronicle""  “The broadest view yet of one of Penn’s most important and appealing early projects. . . . ""Small Trades ""has the heft of history—it’s a sociologist’s dream—but it’s also one of the year’s most fascinating books of fashion photographs.”—""Photograph Magazine""  “The nobility and individuality of Penn’s subjects, and the simple setting, enhanced only by the sitters’ tools of their trades, became staples of Penn’s equanimous style.  Published by ""Vogue ""in 1951, the photographs have now been collected in a coffee-table book, which is both a paean and swan song to a lost era.”—British ""Vogue""  “These photographs . . . are respectful, consistent, beautiful, intelligent, daring. And unmissable. A brilliant catalogue.”—""Financial Times"" """"  “This magnificent book, with its outstanding images, is a pleasure to hold.” —""Choice"" ""The book is a work of art in its own right; an object of beauty, and a Noah's ark for vanishing trades.""—""The Jewish Chronicle"""

<p> These photographs . . . are respectful, consistent, beautiful, intelligent, daring. And unmissable. A brilliant catalogue. -- Financial Times

Author Information

Virginia Heckert & Anne Lacoste are associate and assistant curator, respectively, in the Department of Photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum.

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