William Klein
Bikini, Moscow

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Images(2)

Artist William Klein (French, born United States, 1926–2022)French, born United States, 1926–2022

CultureAmerican

Titles

Bikini, Moscow

Date1959, printed 1981

Place depictedMoscow, Russia

MediumGelatin silver print

DimensionsImage: 12 3/4 × 17 1/2 in. (32.4 × 44.5 cm)
Sheet: 15 7/8 × 19 13/16 in. (40.3 × 50.3 cm)

Credit LineThe Allan Chasanoff Photographic Collection

Object number91.772

Not on view

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Department

Photography

Special Collections

Allan Chasanoff Photographic Collection

Object Type

PHOTOGRAPHS

DescriptionSnapshots are often celebrated for their vivacity, spontaneity, and charm in capturing the chance moments of passing life. However, critics may describe them as unpremeditated, unrefined, and even “bad” pictures. William Klein’s work epitomizes both sides of this duality. In distinct series of photographs focusing on cities (New York, Rome, Moscow, and Tokyo), he was “in search of the rawest snapshot, the zero degree of photography.” He captured streets seething with energy and movement, in a style of blurry, grainy, high-contrast photographs that rejected traditional compositions in favor of views that are up close and personal. Klein took pride in his unconventional aesthetic, rejecting fancy equipment and proper technique and savoring the automatic and accidental. Charming and raw, photographs like this one of a young woman bursting with verve, implausibly paired with a dozing man, combine the delightful imperfections and surprise of the snapshot.
ProvenanceAllan Chasanoff, New York; given to MFAH, 1991.
Exhibition History“In A Snap: The Art of Vernacular Photography,” The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, November 12, 2014–February 22, 2015.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

verso bottom left in pencil " Bikini Moscow 1959 "

verso bottom right in pencil " William Klein 1981 "

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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