the collector's folio

William Klein Most Popular Paintings

The 9 artworks by William Klein our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 9 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide William Klein · born 1928

Simone + Nina, Piazza di Spagna, Rome (Vogue)

1960 · Museum of Fine Arts, Boston · original 45 x 34 cm

This 1960 black and white photograph by William Klein captures mid-century Roman chic. Shop this iconic street scene today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 9 artworks by William Klein
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$30028 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$31834 × 45 cm Commission at original size

Man under El, New York

1955 · original 36 x 26 cm

William Klein’s "Man under El" (1955) captures urban isolation in a striking black & white photo. Explore this iconic NYC scene – realism, light, and timeless emotion.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 9 artworks by William Klein
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20027 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled 1

ArtsWestchester, White Plains

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 9 artworks by William Klein
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20028 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

William Klein’s ‘Pizzeria, New York’ (1954) captures vibrant NYC nightlife in a striking black & white photo. Explore its documentary style, urban energy & iconic signage – a unique piece of street photography.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 9 artworks by William Klein
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20037 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Marie Hélène, St. Raphael and Metro, Paris

1958 · original 31 x 31 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 9 artworks by William Klein
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$25031 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Stickball Team Portrait, 40th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues

1954 · original 28 x 35 cm

William Klein’s ‘Stickball Team Portrait’ captures urban struggle in 1954 NYC. A dynamic black & white photo showcasing street life & social commentary. Explore this iconic piece!

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 9 artworks by William Klein
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$32535 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Gun, Gun, Gun, New York

1955 · original 24 x 34 cm

Own a captivating reproduction of William Klein’s ‘Gun, Gun, Gun, New York.’ This iconic 1955 street photo captures raw NYC energy. A unique piece for art collectors.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 9 artworks by William Klein
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20037 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Evelyn, Isabella, Nina and Mirrors, New York

1962 · original 50 x 40 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 9 artworks by William Klein
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$27528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$30940 × 50 cm Commission at original size

Boy and Dollar, New York

1955 · original 35 x 27 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 9 artworks by William Klein
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20028 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

William Klein

born 1928

Quick facts

Color intensitymonochromatic
Museums on APSMuseum of Fine Arts, ArtsWestchester
Top 3 worksSimone + Nina, Piazza di Spagna, Rome (Vogue), Man under El, New York, Untitled 1
Copyright statusUnder copyright
Topics explorednew york city
Art periodModern

Biography

The Ironic Eye: The Unfiltered Vision of William Klein

To look through the lens of William Klein is to witness the world stripped of its polite veneers and presented in all its raw, kinetic, and often jarring glory. Born in New York City in 1926 into an impoverished Jewish family, Klein carried a rebellious spirit that would eventually dismantle the polished boundaries of mid-century photography. His journey was never a straight line; it was a series of deliberate disruptions. Before he became a titan of the photographic medium, he trained as a painter under the legendary Fernand Léger. This foundation in abstraction and sculpture deeply informed his later photographic work, imbuing his images with a structural intensity and a fascination with form that transcended mere documentation.

Klein’s transition from the canvas to the camera marked the birth of a new visual language. He did not merely want to capture reality; he wanted to collide with it. Moving to Paris after serving in the U.S. Army, he immersed himself in the European avant-garde, yet his heart remained tethered to the gritty, pulsing energy of the streets. His style became famously characterized by what he termed “photographic collage”—a technique involving unconventional framing, deliberate motion blur, and heavy grain that rejected the sterile perfection of traditional photojournalism. By embracing distortion and overlapping elements, Klein captured the psychological weight of urban existence, turning the chaotic streets of New and Paris into stages for profound human drama.

A Legacy of Provocation and Style

The mid-1950s served as a transformative era for Klein, defined by his ability to find beauty in the overlooked and the unsettling. His 1957 monograph, “New York,” remains one of the most influential books in the history of photography, documenting the raw, postwar vitality of his hometown with an unflinching eye. This work did more than just record a city; it captured a mood of restlessness and transformation. It was during this period that he also began to bridge the gap between high art and commercial allure, finding immense success as a fashion photographer for Vogue. In the pages of Vogue, Klein applied his street-wise, gritty aesthetic to the world of haute couture, proving that elegance could coexist with an edge of urban decay.

Throughout his prolific career, Klein’s achievements were marked by prestigious accolades and a relentless pursuit of new mediums. His contributions to the visual arts were recognized through numerous honors, including:

The Prix Nadar, awarded in 1957 for his groundbreaking photographic vision.
The Royal Photographic Society's Centenary Medal and Honorary Fellowship.
The Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award at the Sony World Photography Awards.

Beyond the still image, Klein was a true polymath of the moving image, directing feature-length fiction films, documentaries, and producing hundreds of television commercials. His work always maintained a singular, ironic tone—a way of looking at the world that was simultaneously critical and deeply affectionate. Whether capturing the vibrant nightlife of a New York pizzeria or the isolated solitude of a man under an elevated train, Klein’s legacy lies in his refusal to look away from the truth. He remains a foundational figure whose work continues to challenge how we perceive the intersection of art, life, and the beautiful chaos of the human condition.

Questions & Answers

What are the birth city and country of William Klein?

William Klein was born in New York City, in United States of America.

In which historical period did William Klein work?

William Klein worked in the Modern period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.

What colors did William Klein use most often?

The color profile of William Klein's work is shown on the artist's Palette Genome page.

By the OriginalUniqueArt.com Editorial Team Updated Sept. 20, 2026

one You choose the size

Standard formats or any custom dimension, matched to the proportions of the original.

two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

Commission your William Klein

Every artwork by William Klein in our catalog can be painted to order, in the size that suits the room.

All artworks by William Klein