First Avenue

January 1955, printed 1978

William Klein

Associated Names
William Klein

Artist, American, 1926 - 2022

This is a black and white photograph of an urban cityscape, featuring various signs and skyscrapers. The image includes a large sign advertising a "Special Rate" of 75 cents on Saturdays and Sundays, along with other signs for a "Public Telephone" and warning against parking. Skyscrapers of different architectural styles fill the background, giving a sense of a bustling city. Additionally, there is a billboard with the message "Fight Communism." The scene is indicative of a mid-20th-century American cityscape.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Robert B. Menschel

  • Dimensions

    image: 20.4 × 30 cm (8 1/16 × 11 13/16 in.)
    sheet: 30.3 × 40.3 cm (11 15/16 × 15 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2019.180.2.8

Associated Artworks

See all 12 artworks
The image displays two individuals in motion. One person on the left is leaning sideways with an arm raised, wearing a dress with decorative elements. The person on the right is wearing a cap and a military-style coat. Their faces are blurred due to movement. In the background are buildings, a street, cars, a billboard with partially visible text, a lamp post, and pavement.

Dance in Brooklyn

William Klein

1954

This is a photograph of the cover of a book or catalog. The cover is black with textures that give it a slightly distressed appearance. Centered on the cover, within a lighter black square, the text reads "WILLIAM KLEIN NEW YORK 54/55" in bold, sans-serif typeface. The design is minimalistic, relying on the contrast between the raised letters and the dark background for visual impact.

New York 54/55

William Klein

1954

The image shows a young boy sitting on the ground beside the lower half of another person's body. The boy is against a checkered background, with his hands on his knees. He has short, curly hair and a neutral expression. The boy is wearing a patterned shirt with short sleeves. The standing person is wearing dark pants and a white shirt, with hands by their side; a ring is visible on one of their fingers. The background has a black-and-white checkered pattern, surrounded by advertisements for Chesterfield cigarettes and a telephone sign.

Spanish Harlem

William Klein

1954

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Robert B. Menschel, New York; gift to NGA, 2019.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

on verso, signed by artist, upper right in graphite: No 35 William Klein; by unknown hand, top right in graphite: PORTFOLIO N.Y. 1954-55; by artist, bottom center of mat below image in graphite: First Avenue

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