Small Trades.

An exhibition of Irving Penn’s photographs dating back to 1950-1951 is on view at the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson. “Small Trades” is a series of photographs of individuals in their work clothes and adornments. Taken in the natural light of his studio instead of their work environment, Penn hoped to introduce an essential equality between them. Penn used the studio not to isolate, but to transform. Penn’s interest in the project started with a growing awareness that in the post World War II environment, many of these occupations would soon disappear. Penn’s photos are marked by the simplicity and rigor that are trademarks of his style at Vogue. Taken in Paris, London, and New York, photographs of the same tradesman or woman are, not surprisingly, very different. Some of the trades have quietly endured: newsman, mailman, plumber and nurse. Their tools of the trade vary, however. Others have gone extinct: coachman, organ grinder and tinsmith (I laughed at that one.) I am not sure if the Rag & Bone Man, London 1951, still exists today. May have to go to London to find out.

Fondation Henry Cartier-Bresson
2 Impasse Lebouis [14e]
www.henricartierbresson.org
Irving Penn, "Les Petits Metiers" through July 25th