William Klein

William Klein (b. 1926 USA, d. 2022 France) was a pioneering American photographer and filmmaker renowned for his innovative approach to street photography and his groundbreaking work in fashion photography. Klein’s distinctive style is characterized by its raw, confrontational energy, often featuring blurred motion, high-contrast imagery, and a sense of spontaneity that challenged traditional notions of composition and focus. His book New York (1956) is a seminal work in street photography, capturing the chaotic and vibrant life of the city with a bold, unfiltered lens. Klein’s fashion photography, particularly for Vogue, was equally revolutionary, blending the worlds of high fashion and street life in a way that broke the conventions of the genre. In addition to his work in photography, Klein was an accomplished filmmaker, known for satirical and experimental films like Who Are You, Polly Maggoo? (1966) and Mr. Freedom (1969). His work has had a lasting impact on both photography and film, cementing his place as one of the most influential visual artists of the 20th century.