Wales 31 1953

Robert Frank made this gelatin silver print, Wales 31, that shows strips of film, with some red marks, that seem to indicate a selection process. I love how Frank embraces the imperfect, the accidental, the overlooked. Look at the texture, the way the light catches on the emulsion, making some areas glow while others recede into shadow. The scratches and dust add another layer of grit. It feels so physical and immediate. The red marks jump out against the monochrome, a graphic intervention that reminds us of the artist's hand, a conversation between seeing and deciding. That crude 'X' over one frame, it's like a rejection, but also a focus. It makes you wonder what Frank was thinking, what he was looking for. It reminds me a little of Moholy-Nagy's photograms and how he embraced chance. It's this ongoing dialogue, artists borrowing, responding, and rethinking what photography can be. It's not about perfection. It's about process and thinking.