american photographer William Klein key portrait painter of the streets New York, Paris and Rome In the second half of the 20th century, he died in Paris last Saturday at the age of 94, his family said on Monday, local media reported.
Klein, international known for his urban photography and work in fashion and film, He died “silently”, leaving behind reports that left his mark on photojournalism, such as “Life in New York is Good and Good for You,” dedicated to his hometown of New York.
As in Robert Frank’s ‘The Americans’ years later, The book was published thanks to a French publisher, due to rejection in the United States, where his work did not begin to be acclaimed until the 1980s.
His free style, which he manages to make his photos look like they were taken almost by chance, In the 50s, he began to stand out with images expressing impulses. and street violence and violence that defies established principles of framing, lighting or sharpness.
Moving away from the principles of the decadeKlein dared to provoke the people he portrayed, make them laugh or react to the lens, A boy with a gun pointed at the camera, as in one of his most famous images. In an interview with Le Monde in 2005, “I said to him: Make the bad guy!”
fashion, his photographs were quoted on a par with other great talents of the time such as Helmut Newton, Irving Penn or Richard Avedon, Although Klein was much more disrespectful and did not last long in the industry.
Paris later became his city of residence, Born in Manhattan in 1928, this son of Jewish Hungarians shows his interest in art and politics, which has also made a place in his cinema, “Who are you Polly Magoo?” continued in films such as (1966) or his documentary “Far From Vietnam”.
Cinema started as a hobby After assisting Federico Fellini in ‘Las noches de Cabiria’ (1957), especially during this period when he had the opportunity to describe the less touristic Rome, he also won the applause of Pier Paolo Pasolini, who wrote the texts of the book “Rome”.
“Rome is a movie and Klein directed it”, Another Italian director of the time, Federico Fellini, later mentioned him.
His agitator personality has also accompanied him in recent years, He continued to present his work through galleries halfway across Europe, sending journalists and fans if necessary, and talking openly about the political situation in his home country.