Five Okapa Warriors, New Guinea

1970, printed 1978

Irving Penn

Associated Names
Irving Penn

Artist, American, 1917 - 2009

The image shows five men arranged in two rows. Three men stand behind, and two kneel in front, all holding long bows and arrows. The men have distinct facial features with strong jawlines and prominent cheekbones. They have various hairstyles, including headpieces made of feathers. Each man's face is painted, and some wear nose ornaments. Their clothing is traditional, made from natural fabrics and materials, with skirts, armbands, necklaces, and wristbands. Some wear skirts adorned with shells. The background is a plain, neutral tone.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    platinum/palladium print on Bienfang paper mounted on aluminum, 1978

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Irving Penn

  • Dimensions

    image: 49.53 × 49.37 cm (19 1/2 × 19 7/16 in.)
    sheet (visible): 51.28 × 51.28 cm (20 3/16 × 20 3/16 in.)
    overall: 76.2 × 66.04 × 1.27 cm (30 × 26 × 1/2 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2002.119.71

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Irving Penn; gift to NGA, 2002.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

Center verso in graphite: 1230 (circled) / Okapa Warriors (underlined) (New Guinea) / BF Paper on Aluminum / Multiple coating and Printing / (1) Platinum-palladium / (2) Platinum-palladium / Print made May-June 1978; left of center in graphite: 9/35; stamp: artist's copyright stamp with graphite addition: 1974; stamp: Hand-coated by the photographer; with graphite addition: Irving Penn (circled); stamp: In addition to 35 (graphite addition) numbered prints of this image / in platinum metals, unnumbered, but signed, silver / prints not exceeding a total of 20 (graphite addition) may exist.; upper right in graphite: RM

Wikidata ID

Q64155315

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