Barnett Newman

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.

The great American painter Barnett Newman (1905-1970) is one of the key figures of Abstract Expressionism. His works are recognisable for their large fields of pure colour traversed by vertical lines. His bare canvases are not devoid of meaning and sensation, though. Newman himself described the emotional power of his works that he wished to transmit to viewers. His work is exhibited the world over, and his paintings form part of the most important public and private collections.

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.