Simone + Nina, Spanish Steps, Rome 1960

This photograph, Simone + Nina, Spanish Steps, Rome, was taken by William Klein. I love the street photography of Klein because it often has the composition and feel of a fashion shoot. The artist is totally unafraid, walking right up to the models, in this case, Nina and Simone, who are elegantly posed on the zebra crossing. The two glamorous women, sporting black and white dresses, are a foil for the man on the scooter. The striped dresses and the pedestrian crossing create an echo effect. What was Klein thinking when he was shooting this work? Was he just trying to capture a moment, or was he trying to create something more? I imagine Klein must have been attracted to how, formally, all of these elements align. The photograph also captures a specific moment in time, the 1960s, when fashion and culture were undergoing a period of significant change. Like other photographers, Klein’s work is an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring new modes of creativity. It’s an embodied expression embracing ambiguity, open to multiple interpretations.