American photographer William Klein, best known for his fashion and cityscape photography, died Saturday night in Paris at the age of 96, his son Pierre announced today.

William Klein passed away “peacefully” after revolutionizing the world of photography with his vivid images that captured the fever and brutality of cities. His long career has been equally devoted to fashion and the world of cinema.

According to his own wishes, his funeral will be held in a very close family circle, his son said. An event in his honor will take place at a later date.

Klein was born April 19, 1926 in New York to an Orthodox Jewish family. He discovered Europe while serving in the army. He was demobilized in Paris in 1946 and at that time first devoted himself to painting. The big “twist” came when he won a Rolleiflex poker game, his first camera: he began photographing the monuments of Paris, and his abstract images caught the attention of Alexander Lieberman, artistic director of Vogue, who offered him a collaboration. Klein was 26 at the time, and thus began a career that spanned 70 years.

Photographer, artist, documentary filmmaker and graphic designer, Klein is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. A retrospective of his work is currently being completed at the International Center for Photography in New York.

He lived in France after meeting his future wife, Jean Florin, with whom he lived life until her death in 2005.

Source: APE/MEB