Guggenheim 50--Pennsylvania 1955

This is a contact sheet, titled ‘Guggenheim 50 – Pennsylvania,’ made by Robert Frank. As a photographer, Frank worked with light-sensitive emulsion on celluloid, but he was hardly a traditionalist. Here, the material is a means of recording a journey. The numerous frames give a sense of constant movement, like the turning pages of a travelogue. The subjects of the photos are often on the move, such as the automobiles. It can be easy to forget that the artist, too, had to physically travel to each location with his equipment. Frank has a keen eye for composition and the decisive moment, but there is also an emphasis on documenting everyday life, revealing the social and economic realities of the time. These contact sheets allow us to see a glimpse into Frank’s editing process. Ultimately, understanding the materiality and context of photography allows us to appreciate the artist’s vision.