William Klein, Revolutionary Street Photographer, Dies at 96
William Klein, the iconic American photographer who transformed street photography, passed away at the age of 96 on September 10, 2022, in Paris. His son Pierre confirmed the news on September 12. Klein was born in New York on April 19, 1928, but spent his childhood in France after World War II. Initially trained as a painter, he was later hired by Vogue's Alexander Liberman as a fashion photographer. Klein's bold, high-contrast style redefined conventional photography. His influential works include four major books: New York (1956), Roma+Klein (1959), Tokyo (1964), and Mosca (1964). He earned several accolades, including the Prix Nadar in 1957 and the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award in 2011 at the Sony World Photography Awards.
Key facts
- William Klein died on September 10, 2022, in Paris at age 96.
- His son Pierre Klein announced the death on September 12, 2022.
- Klein was born on April 19, 1928, in New York to a Jewish family and grew up in France.
- He trained as a painter with Fernand Léger and architect Angelo Mangiarotti.
- He was recruited by Vogue art director Alexander Liberman to become a fashion photographer.
- Klein made the first documentary about Muhammad Ali.
- His book 'New York' (1956) is considered a masterpiece and inspired Robert Frank's 'The Americans'.
- He received the Prix Nadar in 1957, the Centenary Medal and Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society in 1999, and the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award at the Sony World Photography Awards in 2011.
Entities
Artists
- William Klein
- Fernand Léger
- Angelo Mangiarotti
- Alexander Liberman
- Henri Cartier-Bresson
- Robert Frank
- Federico Fellini
- Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Ennio Flaiano
- Alberto Moravia
- Muhammad Ali
Institutions
- Vogue
- Royal Photographic Society
- Sony World Photography Awards
Locations
- New York
- Paris
- France
- Rome
- Tokyo
- Moscow