William Klein (1926 – 2022) was an American-French photographer and film director.
He is known for such photos as Broadway and 103rd Street, New York, 1954–1955 and films such as Who Are You, Polly Maggoo? (1966), Mr. Freedom (1969) and The Model Couple (1977).
Klein was unassuming, unpretentious and had a healthy dose of humor. Here at Jahsonic we have lots of sympathy for mr. Klein. He strikes us as a nobrow artist, a category we hold in high esteem.
Robert Frank was a Swiss photographer, best-known for his photo book The Americans (1958) and his documentary on The Rolling Stones, Cocksucker Blues (1972).
Of that book, which was criticized at the time with the words “meaningless blur, grain, muddy exposures, drunken horizons and general sloppiness” by mainstream media, a criticism that by the way, became the hallmark of a new aesthetic in photography: the new snapshot aesthetic.
My fave picture of that collection is the photo of three gay men, looking defyingly into the camera. Behind them is a sign which reads ‘Don’t Miss Mister Instin …’.
This particular photo is reminiscent of the work in Naked City (1945) by Weegee, of the photos of Paris de Nuit (1933) by Brassai and is also a precursor to Diane Arbus and Nan Goldin.
And then there is Cocksucker Blues.