Irving Penn fashion photography exhibition opens in Paris

The Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris is hosting ‘Penn & Fashion’, a major retrospective of fashion photographer Irving Penn. The exhibition, which runs from September 30, 2026, to January 17, 2027, features 140 original photographs produced between 1947 and 2008.

The collection traces Penn’s six-decade relationship with Vogue and his documentation of high fashion. The chronological journey highlights his work with iconic houses such as Dior, Balenciaga, Ungaro, Courrèges, Yves Saint Laurent, and Karl Lagerfeld.

Penn’s aesthetic is noted for its rigor, minimalist composition, and focus on light and form rather than elaborate sets. The exhibition showcases his ability to redefine visual codes for fashion media through a lens of simplicity and graphic precision.