John F. Kennedy--Nixon campaign 19 1960

Editor: So, this is Robert Frank's "John F. Kennedy--Nixon campaign 19," a gelatin-silver print from 1960. It's a contact sheet showing a series of images. It almost feels like we are looking at the behind-the-scenes making of history, rather than history itself. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: The contact sheet format is key. Frank isn't presenting a single, polished image, but raw evidence of the photographic process. This reminds us that images of politicians are constructed, the result of carefully staged events and deliberate choices. How do you think this contrasts with the images people were seeing of Kennedy and Nixon at the time? Editor: Well, the final images would likely be very polished, carefully curated for the public. These feel much more candid, capturing moments of downtime or perhaps less flattering angles. There is also the image with the red circle. How do you interpret the marks? Curator: Precisely. The red markings! They guide us to the ‘chosen’ frames, highlighting the power dynamic between photographer and subject, but also, potentially, the photo editor selecting images for publication. It makes us think about the narratives that get privileged and circulated in the media, right? This also challenges the notion of photographic truth. Do you see how that ties into the larger political landscape? Editor: I think so. It's not just about showing what happened, but also about *how* it's shown, who is in control, and whose story is being told. It really deconstructs the image of political campaigns. Curator: Exactly. And that critical perspective on power, on the role of the image in shaping public opinion, is something Frank consistently explored throughout his work. Seeing this gives such an invaluable insight to his wider projects, don't you agree? Editor: I totally agree! It’s fascinating to consider how this contact sheet invites us to question the construction of political images and their role in shaping history. I had not expected such complex meanings embedded into what seems like a simple document!