Irving Penn was one of the true masters and I am surprised that nobody else has said replied to this thread. His contribution to photography was enormous.
Well, I have been a fashion and calendar photographer most of my career and I suppose I knew of Penn as well as anyone else did. But there was ever a problem. The problem was simply this: he was always feted with all the accolades but seldom did he actually seem to appear anywhere. For me, he was probably the world's best-known invisible photographer. Again, that's for me.
This is NOT any attempt to diminish the man, something I would never dream of doing, but knowing how the internet can distort opinion or even statement, I feel the need to stress that is not my intention.
Perhaps that is something others have found too; there is no slight or boycott, just little mental connection based on presence.
Rob C