
The Angel
1979
A striking work by the legendary Irving Penn, *The Angel* exemplifies his mastery of controlled composition and visual elegance. This authenticated piece bears Penn's pencil signature, title, date, and edition number 11/52 on the reverse of its aluminum flush-mount, accompanied by Condé Nast copyright, credit, and edition stamps. The work's provenance and limited edition designation of 52 prints underscore its significance as a collectible example of Penn's celebrated photographic legacy.
- Medium
- Signed, titled, dated, numbered 11/52 in pencil, Condé Nast copyright credit reproduction limitation, credit and edition stamps on the reverse of the aluminum flush-mount.
- Location
- Phillips, Salt Lake City, UT
- Spotted At
- Auction House · PhillipsView on map
🔨 Auction Lot
Photographs Evening & Day
October 5, 2016
Estimate: $8,000 to $12,000
More by Irving Penn
Artists in conversation

Richard Avedon
American · b. 1923

Avedon shared Penn's commitment to stark black and white portraiture with minimalist backgrounds that isolate the figure and elevate it to a state of elegance. His fine art photography prints, produced in limited editions for gallery and collector contexts, mirror the controlled compositional mastery seen in The Angel.

Herb Ritts
American · b. 1952

Ritts consistently worked in high contrast monochrome figure photography with a clean minimalist aesthetic that evokes timeless elegance, closely echoing the visual language Penn employs in The Angel. His fine art limited edition prints share the same sculptural attention to the human form within a spare, controlled setting.

Horst P. Horst
German American · b. 1906

Horst P. Horst built his reputation on beautifully composed black and white figure photographs that blend elegance, formalism, and a quietly theatrical sensibility, qualities that resonate deeply with The Angel. His collectible fine art prints produced for galleries share Penn's dedication to refined lighting and minimalist visual sophistication.
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