Join The Collection to save, track, and explore works like this.

Irving Penn — Standing Woman, Sitting Woman, and Child (Nepal)
Irving Penn

Standing Woman, Sitting Woman, and Child (Nepal)

Irving Penn's *Standing Woman, Sitting Woman, and Child (Nepal)* is a masterfully composed selenium-toned gelatin silver print that captures the quiet dignity of its Nepalese subjects with striking intimacy. Penn's signature use of a neutral backdrop isolates the three figures — a standing woman, a seated woman, and a child — allowing their textures, expressions, and relationships to command full attention. The warm, reddish-brown tones characteristic of the selenium process lend the image a timeless, archival quality that elevates this ethnographic portrait into the realm of fine art.

Medium
Selenium toned gelatin silver print, printed 1986.

🔨 Auction Lot

Photographs Day Sale

April 2, 2015

Start the Discussion

Request access to join the discussion

About this work

Irving Penn, Standing Woman, Sitting Woman, and Child (Nepal)

Irving Penn's *Standing Woman, Sitting Woman, and Child (Nepal)* is a masterfully composed selenium-toned gelatin silver print that captures the quiet dignity of its Nepalese subjects with striking intimacy. Penn's signature use of a neutral backdrop isolates the three figures — a standing woman, a seated woman, and a child — allowing their textures, expressions, and relationships to command full attention. The warm, reddish-brown tones characteristic of the selenium process lend the image a timeless, archival quality that elevates this ethnographic portrait into the realm of fine art.

Medium
Selenium toned gelatin silver print, printed 1986.
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

20th Century, Humanist Photography, Figure Study, Documentary Photography, Black and White Photography, Portraiture, Gelatin Silver Print, American Photographer, Intimate Mood, Master Photographer, Selenium Toned Print, Nepalese Subjects

More works by Irving Penn