This portrait is of a chef from New York in Irving Penn’s Small Trades Gallery. It depicts a simple man in his work uniform with an apron and his tools for his occupation. He is holding a pan, a classic meat fork, and a chef’s knife on his waistband. His face shows his pride and seriousness in what he does on a daily basis. His white apron and chef hat contrasts the gray background, emphasizing his presence. His stance is simple and represents his comfort in his passion of making food. He is centered in the middle of the shot, to highlight he is the total focus of the piece. The shot effectively shows how this chef values his job. I chose this piece because I like how Irving took portraits of people that are involved in small trades. It portrays some under-valued occupations people had in the 1950s. The chef one especially caught my eye because the man in the photo seems he enjoys what he does a lot. His smile and facial expression drew me in.
Penn, I. (1951). Small trades. Retrieved March 22, 2021, from https://irvingpenn.org/small-trades
Good description! This series is also high contrast with dark shadow sides of the face and figure.