Convention hall—Chicago 1956

Robert Frank made this photograph, Convention hall—Chicago, using black and white film, at an undetermined date. I see three men pushing a dark, presumably heavy object on wheels. The palette is almost entirely greyscale, ranging from almost pure black to off-white. What's compelling is how Frank uses the contrasts and textures to create a sense of grit. Look at the man in the foreground, with his cigarette and jumpsuit, his posture is one of exhaustion. The graininess of the film adds to the overall feeling of labor, and struggle. And the way the light catches on the surfaces, it feels almost sculptural, like a relief. Frank captures the material reality of the scene, but at the same time, he's hinting at something deeper. This is similar to the work of Walker Evans, who also documented American life with a critical eye. It's a reminder that art doesn't have to be slick or polished to be meaningful. It can be raw, and imperfect, and still speak volumes.