Art is divine

Born in 1911 in Sweden, Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn studied art and choreography in Berlin with Mary Wigman, a pioneer of expressionist dance. Back in Stockholm, she opened her own dance school. In 1933, she moved to Paris and married the dancer Fernand Fonssagrives in 1934.

Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn was the muse of the greatest photographers of her time. Her natural grace, elegance and professionalism made her start her career in 1936 with her first husband, Fernand Fonssagrives, a protean artist whose talent gave a real role to the models he photographed.He created his most memorable images with Lisa, who was very involved in the creative process, for around fifteen years. Leaving Europe for the United States due to the war, Fernand Fonssagrives quickly became one of the most sought-after photographers in New York. In 1940, he shared a studio with the young Richard Avedon.

Published in Vogue, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar and Town & Country, he grew tired of the demands of the artistic directors with whom he collaborated, and, to escape the routine of commercial work, he abandoned photography in 1963 and moved to Spain to make sculpture. At the start of her career, Lisa Fonssagrives met the photographer Willy Maywald in Paris who made a series of photographs with her for hats. Following this shoot, Vogue offered Lisa the opportunity to work with the young Horst P. Horst who was just starting out in the profession.

Fernand Fonssagrives, Lisa Fonssagrives, 1935-1939 Gelatin silver print MEP Collection, Paris. Donation from the Archive of Tom Penn © Estate of Fernand Fonssagrives

Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Lisa Fonssagrives wearing a ‘King Tut’ sugarloaf hat by Hattie Carnegie, jewelry by Verdura. Harper’s Bazaar, September 1945 Gelatin silver print Loan from the Archive of Tom Penn © Center for Creative Photography, Arizona Board of Regents /Adagp, Paris 2023

 In 1947, Irving Penn met Lisa Fonssagrives for the first time when he had to take a group photo of the twelve most photographed models in America for Vogue magazine.

They get married and their deep personal and artistic complicity gives birth to photographs that have become legendary. Irving Penn is fascinated by the personality, the charisma of his wife and their exchanges transcend their work.

She herself began a career as a photographer in 1941. She gradually withdrew from modeling from 1952 and began designing clothes, then took up sculpture. Her works are on display at the Marlborough Gallery. She died in New York in 1992.

Doe-eyed, straight nose, defined cheekbones, slim and distinguished silhouette, Lisa Fonssagrives – Penn printed more than film, she inspired and forever marked the art of photography in unforgettable works, thanks to her intelligence and her allure inimitable