Getty Acquires Landmark ‘Cuzco’ Photographs by Irving Penn

Summary

The J. Paul Getty Museum has acquired 189 prints from Irving Penn's Cuzco series, a body of work considered a turning point in his career. The acquisition, a gift from The Irving Penn Foundation, includes gelatin silver and platinum-palladium prints, a book maquette, and issues of American Vogue where the photographs were first published. This collection significantly enhances the Getty's holdings of Penn's work, making it a key resource for studying his artistic development.

Key points

• Getty Museum acquired 189 prints from Irving Penn's Cuzco series.
• The acquisition was made possible by a donation from The Irving Penn Foundation.
• The Cuzco series marked a turning point in Penn's career, shifting to portraits of everyday people in open settings.
• The collection includes prints, a book maquette, and related Vogue issues.