Houses--Los Angeles 1956

Robert Frank made this photograph, 'Houses—Los Angeles,' using black and white film. It shows a row of modest homes, seemingly uniform in their design, under a flat, overcast sky. Frank, who was born in Switzerland, came to America and traveled the country photographing what he saw. His images often challenged the idealized image of American life prevalent in mainstream media. This photograph, for example, presents a stark contrast to the glamorous depiction of Los Angeles often seen in popular culture. There is a feeling of desolation and a sense of the economic realities faced by many Americans. The photograph invites us to consider the social and economic conditions that shaped the lives of people living in these houses. Studying urban planning policies, real estate development, and economic trends of the time can help us understand the historical context of the image. The image's power comes from how Frank documented a reality often overlooked. By exploring the social context of art, we see how cultural objects reflect and shape society.