David Smith

1964

Silver print

15 5/8 × 15 11/16 in

Irving Penn (1917-2009), one of the undisputed masters of twentieth-century photography, is known for his iconic images of haute couture and still life, but also, and above all, for his magnificent portraits of the artists, writers and celebrities who marked the cultural landscape of their time.

American sculptor David Smith (1906-1965) was an Abstract Expressionist artist. His large, abstract sculptures with their rigorous geometric forms made from stainless steel can be found in the world's greatest museums. A former welder in an automobile factory and a great admirer of the work of Julio Gonzalez, he remained loyal to metal and devoted himself fully to sculpture, using welding as well as forging techniques.

This photograph was shown for the first time by Pinault Collection in 2023 during the exhibition “Irving Penn, Artists' Portraits”, Villa Les Roches Brunes, Dinard.

Exhibitions