Early New York City B c. 1949 - 1950

Robert Frank made this photographic contact sheet, "Early New York City B," sometime in the mid-20th century. The images capture different aspects of city life. These include outdoor scenes of groups of people and buildings and indoor scenes of domestic life and leisure. The arrangement of images on the contact sheet shows different aspects of New York City's social and cultural environment. This arrangement can be linked to Frank's broader goal of documenting American life in the post-war period. Frank was interested in capturing what he saw as the often-overlooked realities of American society. To fully understand Frank’s work, scholars might consult sources such as his published books, interviews, and critical essays on his photography. These shed light on his artistic intentions and the social context in which he worked. The meaning of these photographs is contingent on their social and institutional context.