William Klein

William Klein began his career as an abstract artists before becoming a renowned fashion and street photographer. Studying under Fernand Léger in Paris, Klein initially explored abstract painting, holding two successful solo exhibitions in Milan. His early work—characterized by bold lines, dramatic contrasts, geometric patterns, and a dynamic interplay between harmony and chaos—laid the groundwork for the visual style that would define his later work in fashion, documentary, and street photography. Klein’s foray into photography came about unexpectedly: he won a camera in a poker game. His experimentation with the medium led him to photograph his abstract paintings, capturing blurred images and then manipulating the negatives in the darkroom. This playful approach to the medium would evolve into a ground-breaking style that merged his fine art roots with photography