gorgeous floozies

The most louche flowers you could imagine. Lush color,
spilled pollen. Petals crinkled like torn tissue
paper: a gift too rapidly unwrapped. Some of these
dissolutes are garlanded with time: three Van
Gogh-yellow Gerbera daisies have petals gone vertical,
they're mute as monks. A rose, stem still erect, is
otherwise withery. The best are the images of
imperfection, not just age: the slightly scarred --
but still vividly colorful -- blooms, or maybe I
liked them best because I saw this show a day before
my (ouch! ouch! ouch!) birthday.

Irving Penn, "In Flower", at Pace/MacGill Gallery
32 E. 57 st.
212-759-7999
through Feb. 17
www.pacemacgill.com