man wearing a coat, kneeling on a chair in a corner

Photograph by Irving Penn%2C %C2%A9 by Irving Penn

Truman Capote, New York, 1948

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Gelatin silver printexpand_more

Bequest of Harry Drakeexpand_more  2013.35.125

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Irving Penn’s portrait of author Truman Capote (1924–1984) is a widely recognized photograph. Taken when Capote was 24 years old and gaining critical recognition for his short stories, the portrait is anything but a celebration of the author’s confidence. With his hands shoved into his pockets, his legs tucked up and hidden in a too-big coat, and his body wedged in a corner of the photographer’s studio, the portrait instead captures Capote’s vulnerability at a pivotal moment in his career.

Details
Title
Truman Capote, New York
Artist Life
1917 - 2009
Role
Photographer
Accession Number
2013.35.125
Curator Approved

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man wearing a coat, kneeling on a chair in a corner

Photograph by Irving Penn, © by Irving Penn

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