William Klein (photographer)

William Klein
Klein in 2008
Born(1926-04-19)April 19, 1926
New York City, U.S.
DiedSeptember 10, 2022(2022-09-10) (aged 96)
Paris, France
NationalityAmerican, French
EducationCity College of New York, La Sorbonne, studied with Fernand Léger
Known forPhotography, cinema, painting
AwardsPrix Nadar
1957

Prix Jean Vigo
1967
Hasselblad Award
1990
Royal Photographic Society's Centenary Medal and Honorary Fellowship
1999

Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award, Sony World Photography Awards
2012

William Klein (April 19, 1926 – September 10, 2022)[1] was an American-born French photographer and filmmaker noted for his ironic approach[2][3] to both media and his extensive use of unusual photographic techniques in the context of photojournalism and fashion photography.[2] He was ranked 25th on Professional Photographer's list of 100 most influential photographers.[4]

Klein trained as a painter, studying under Fernand Léger, and found early success with exhibitions of his work. He soon moved on to photography and achieved widespread fame as a fashion photographer for Vogue and for his photo essays on various cities. He directed feature-length fiction films, numerous short and feature-length documentaries and produced over 250 television commercials.

He was awarded the Prix Nadar in 1957, the Royal Photographic Society's Centenary Medal and Honorary Fellowship (HonFRPS) in 1999, and the Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award at the Sony World Photography Awards[5] in 2011.

A retrospective exhibition of his work, William Klein: YES: Photographs, Paintings, Films, 1948–2013, was shown at the International Center of Photography in New York until September 15, 2022.[6]

  1. ^ "William Klein, innovative street and fashion photographer, dies at 96". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  2. ^ a b "William Klein". Photography of the 20th Century. Masters of Photography. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  3. ^ "Text by John Heilpern". William Klein: Photographs. Masters of Photography. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  4. ^ "Professional Photographer Magazine". Top 100 Most influential photographers Century. Professional Photographer Magazine. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  5. ^ O'Hagan, Sean (29 April 2012). "William Klein – in pictures". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  6. ^ Lubow, Arthur (2 June 2022). "Trying to Contain William Klein in One Show Isn't Easy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-13.