William Klein
(William Klein: Pray, Sin, New York, 1954)
William Klein (U.S., b. 1928)
Pray, Sin, New York, 1954. 1954, reprinted 1984
Gelatin silver print
9 1/8 x 13 1/2 in. image size
Henry Art Gallery, Joseph and Elaine Monsen Photography Collection, gift of Joseph and Elaine Monsen and The Boeing Company, 97.86
In Pray, Sin, New York, 1954, Klein aggressively captures hectic street life by inserting his wide-angle lens into the personal space of his subjects. At a time when graphic design and advertising were becoming ever more dominant in the urban landscape, Klein used signs and typography to structure this composition. By interspersing text and advertisements in the spaces between people, Klein energizes his photographs and comments on the growing consumerism of post-war America.