Born in April of 1926, William Klein grew up in the heart of New York City, during the Great Depression and World War 2. Despite his economic circumstances, Klein proved to be a precocious student, enrolling at the City College of New York when he was only 14 years old. After joining the Army, Klein was stationed in and permanently relocated to France for the rest of his life. He began studying as a painter at the Sorbonne, concentrating in abstract painting and sculpture. Through his exhibitions, he became acquainted with Alexander Liberman, the art director for Vogue magazine.
William Klein’s famous city books, each signed by him.
His transition from painting to photography coincided with his work for Vogue. With no formal training in the discipline, Klein became famous for his photography. His subject was the energy and varieties of city life, which contradicted the principles of photography in his day. Whereas photography was understood to be static, clear, and poised, Klein’s work was dynamic, blurry, and candid.
Klein’s style is best represented by his four city books, pictured above. Photographing Moscow, Tokyo, New York, and Rome, Klein’s books distinctively capture the heart of each city. The above set includes signed copies of each book, with the caption booklet of New York signed as well. Very good to near fine books in original dust jackets showing some light rubbing and wear.
Signed first edition of Klein’s famous New York photo book.
Much of Klein’s photographic style developed from his older work in kinetic art, which can be traced back Impressionist figures like Edgar Degas and Claude Monet. Klein eventually became one of the progenitors of this new style called street photography. Many of those photographed by Klein were people in motion, captured by chance encounter. His New York photographs, taken after returning to work with Vogue, are collected in the above book. This first edition copy of Klein’s most popular work is signed, as is its pamphlet bookmark. An excellent example of Klein’s magnum opus.
First edition of Klein’s Rome, in fine condition.
Following his work New York, Klein composed a similar work on Rome, which was well received. By bringing the emphases of kinetic art into photography, Klein was able to refocus people’s attention on everyday circumstances. His genius resides in an unerring ability to remind “us that much great, serious art is often about play, achieved simply by experimenting with the possibilities of the material. Forget trance and witness-the revels are the thing” (Parr & Badger I:243). This first edition of Klein’s Rome is fine in a near fine dust jacket.
Uncommon first edition of William Klein’s Tokyo.
Despite his permanent residence in France, Klein’s work took him around the globe, as he encapsulated the major cities of the world in photos. His Tokyo reflects not only his avant-garde photography, but also his continual refinement of his photographic techniques. His usage of wide lenses and natural lighting in particular demonstrate the refinement of the dynamism of his work, as well as his increasing interest in the ways one can depict motion through image. This first edition of the fourth volume in Klein’s acclaimed series of “city” books is in fine condition. An exceptional and uncommon example.
First edition of Klein’s Photographe Etc., in fine condition.
Klein’s passing on September 10th of this year calls us to reflect on his status as one of the most innovative photographers of the 20th century. He continually pushed the boundaries of photography, invoking new subjects in the ordinary movements of great cities. In his art, whether it be painting, photography, or film, his creative commitment to the dynamism of everyday events is nothing short of an exemplary legacy. His Photographe Etc., published in reflection of his 1983 exhibit at the Pompidou center in Paris, gives a retrospective into his exceptional career.
