Smoke + Veil, Paris c. 1958 - 1989

William Klein shot this picture, Smoke + Veil, Paris, using photography, it’s an image that captures a moment, not just in time, but in the process of image-making itself. The grainy texture of the black and white print feels raw, almost like you could reach out and touch the imperfections, the grit of the film. The veil, the smoke, they’re all textures, layers, obscuring and revealing at the same time. Look at how the smoke curls around the model’s face. It’s soft, ephemeral, but the contrast is sharp, almost aggressive. It’s a fleeting moment made permanent. This tension, between elegance and chaos, is what makes Klein’s work so compelling. It reminds me a bit of Diane Arbus, that same willingness to confront the darker, messier aspects of beauty and desire. It’s not about perfection. It’s about truth, or at least, a version of it.