Irving Penn :: Cretan priest, Crete, 1964. One of the major projects of Penn’s career, which he pursued intermittently between 1948 and 1971, was a group of photographs made during his travels which he called Worlds in a Small Room. Following an experience in Cuzco working in a daylight studio, Penn sought out other opportunities to improvise or bring a studio with him to make portraits in a neutral environment. These encounters attempted to bridge the gaps of language, culture, and geography, to connect on a human level. / via

the–elusive–muse via irvingpenn.org

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Studio portrait photograph of silent film actress Natalie Kingston. Dressed in a sophisticated Western style with feather boa and picture hat, 1920′s /  The press snipe reads: “PUEBLO DAYS OF CALIFORNIA –– when picture hats and sweeping plumes signified the nobility of the WEST –– are reflected in this picturesque pose of Natalie Kingston, First National featured player. Natalie is truly Filmland’s daughter of the dons; her grandsire was General Mariano Vallejo.” / source: eBay