Gas station and buildings--Chicago 1956

This moody photograph of a gas station in Chicago was captured by Robert Frank at an unknown date. The dark and heavy use of grayscale gives the image a somber, almost post-apocalyptic feel. The composition is striking; Frank positions us right in front of these stoic gas pumps, with the looming city skyline fading into the background. There's a stark contrast between the foreground and background, each pulling at our attention. Take a look at the pump on the right; the light seems to be bursting out of it, giving the scene a quiet, surreal feel. This kind of snapshot reminds me of the work of Walker Evans, with its unadorned depiction of everyday scenes. Like Evans, Frank finds a particular beauty in the mundane and overlooked. His images, like any work of art, invite us to see and feel the world in new ways.