Stanley Spencer

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.

Stanley Spencer (1891-1958) is one of the major British artists of the early 20th century. His work, which focused on religion, sex and war, remained confidential for a long time because of his explicit sexual imagery, which was unconventional during the inter-war period. Critics now agree on the impact of his work on the renewal of figurative painting at the end of the 20th century.

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.