The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of September 15, 2024

Bert Lahr

Bert Lahr

1956
(American, 1917–2009)
America, 20th century
gelatin silver print, contact sheet
Paper: 25.4 x 20.3 cm (10 x 8 in.)
Gift from the Collection of Mark Schwartz + Bettina Katz 2020.43
© The Irving Penn Foundation
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Bert Lahr is best known for his portrayal of the cowardly lion in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

Description

One of Vogue’s top photographers, Irving Penn was known for his arresting portraits of celebrities. He would often expose up to 10 rolls of film, or 120 frames, to make a single portrait. They were first printed as contact sheets—pieces of photographic paper containing positive prints the same size as the negatives—so that the artist could select the ones to be enlarged. Occasionally, Penn would give the contact sheets as gifts once the final image was selected.
  • Mark Schwartz + Bettina Katz, Cleveland, OH
    March 2, 2020
    the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Bert Lahr|url=false|author=Irving Penn|year=1956|access-date=15 September 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2020.43