Workmen digging grave, Forest Lawn--Los Angeles 1956

This black and white photograph of workmen digging a grave, was taken by Robert Frank, in Forest Lawn, Los Angeles. Frank uses a kind of poetic realism, focusing on ordinary subjects. The image is rich in texture. Look at the way the light catches on the worker's clothes, the rough bark of the tree, the freshly turned earth. The composition is anchored by the dark, almost abstract square of the grave, contrasted with the scattered floral tributes across the scene. I like how the white shroud partially covers the hole, adding to the disquieting mood. Frank is known for capturing raw, unvarnished glimpses of American life. You might think of him as a visual poet, someone who sees beauty, but also the harsh realities, in the everyday. There's a connection to the earlier work of Walker Evans, but with a more restless energy. His work reminds me that art isn't always about answers; it's about opening up questions, creating space for reflection.