William Klein

flush-mounted, signed and dated by the photographer in blue crayon and annotated 'Camera 3 Die Druck' and with reduction notations in unidentified hands in pencil and a 'Collection of Romeo Martinez' stamp on the reverse, matted, 1954-55

Collection of Romeo Martinez, Paris

Sotheby's New York, 10 and 11 May 1983, Sale 5043, Lot 121

Acquired by the present owner from the above

Romeo E. Martinez, 'William Klein,' Camera (Lucerne), March 1957, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 95-108 (this print)

Another print of this image:

William Klein, William Klein: New York 1954.55 (Manchester, 1995), p. 196

This 1950s print is generally in excellent condition. The corners are bumped and there is slight wear at the edges. There are 3 sharp linear creases, approximately 1/2-inch in length, at the lower left edge. In raking light the following are visible: various soft handling creases throughout; and 2 small, very minor ink stains in the lower left quadrant. The photograph is flush-mounted to heavy board which is in generally good condition. On the reverse, there are adhesive residue stains in the lower portion of the mount. Additionally, there are 2 linear abrasions where a label was removed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The photograph offered here comes originally from the collection of Romeo Martinez, the author of one of the earliest critical assessments of William Klein's work.  His article, 'William Klein,' illustrated with 20 examples of Klein's photography, was published in the March 1957 issue of Camera magazine, where Martinez served as editor from 1952 through 1973.  In 1957, when the article appeared, Klein was a relative newcomer: his first book of photographs, the controversial Life is Good and Good for You in New York, had just been published, and reactions were mixed.  With characteristic brilliance, Martinez championed Klein's originality and summarized his achievement: 'I do not know if, in his earlier activities as a painter and graphist, Klein was able to display his multifarious qualities, but the fact remains that in photography he has achieved the remarkable feat of excelling in work as varied as non-figurative compositions for graphic and decorative use, fashion illustration, the publicity photograph, and the human document.'

The photograph offered here is the actual print used for reproduction in the magazine, where it was titled 'The Queen of Clubs.'