Signed William Klein - Contacts - 2008

Rare copy of the original edition printed and published in Italy, exceptionally signed and dedicated by William Klein on the title page. 84 pages and 36 full-page photographs printed on recto only with introductory English text by Robert Delpire (do not confuse with certain later small-format editions). Soft cover illustrated and illustrated editorial case, sliding. In excellent condition, near new.

This album presents the photographer's graphic and pictorial work on large-format prints of his contact sheets; William Klein's first passion is painting, which he studies with Fernand Léger. He begins to view the object “contact sheet” with a different eye, isolating the chosen image on the sheet, enlarging it, and surrounding it with thick lines of paint in red, yellow or blue. Nothing decorative in his approach, but the will to create a graphic bridge between painting and photography that should be appreciated for itself, a work like never seen before.

“Whatever the author and the age of his passion for the medium, there are multiple ways to choose the photos that have just been taken. The choice can be made in urgency and fever. There is also the search for the right version of the subject treated. At a glance or with a loupe and, when one has found it or believes one has found it, the pencil is there to mark the preference(s). (.) The idea came to William Klein when he proposed to the Centre National de la Photographie (Paris) to make a series of short films based on the camera moving across a contact sheet, commented by its author. The idea was appealing. It had the double merit of showing how a shot unfolds and of hearing a photographer explain his choices… Faced with the interest and success of these films, William Klein began to view another thing, the “contact sheet” object. And he looks far ahead. For he will demonstrate the importance he attaches to his choices, isolating the chosen image, enlarging it, surrounding it with thick lines of paint, red, yellow or blue, which emphasize his desire to halt the gaze, to astonish the passerby or the reader by forcing them to consider not only the image and its perfect composition, but the virtuosity of another architecture, an additional framing that leaves no room for hesitation or evasion. Nothing decorative in the approach, but the will to create a graphic bridge between painting and photography that is intended to be appreciated as such, a work like never seen before…" (Robert Delpire)

Book from my personal collection in excellent condition, practically like new, kept with the utmost care. Protected shipping with reinforced packaging and international tracking guaranteed. In case of multiple purchases, possibility of grouped shipping with reimbursement of any overpaid postage via PayPal.