Irving Penn b. 1917

platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted to aluminum, signed, titled, dated, numbered '10/25,' and with technical, edition, and copyright information by the photographer in pencil and with his Condé Nast copyright stamps on the reverse, matted, 1950, printed in 1979, no. 10 in an edition of 25 in platinum metals (MoMA, pl. 58; Passage, p. 81; Master Images, pl. 28; Chicago, p. 179; History of Fashion Photography, p. 145)

'Rochas' Mermaid line... Every collection has one: Rochas' is one of the most beautiful.   A mermaid line shaped in black velvet, with a fin-fan of black taffeta pleats.  A sweep of black leaves, glistening with black paillettes.  Attached to one long black glove is a flesh-colored tulle stole' (Vogue, September 15, 1950, p. 134).