Early New York City no number 1947 - 1948

Robert Frank created this photographic work, "Early New York City no number", using gelatin silver. The layout of these three strips of film is really interesting; the way Frank arranges these moments from early New York, it's like he’s creating a storyboard or a visual poem. The monochrome palette gives it this timeless feel, almost like looking at memories. I'm drawn to the middle strip, those frames showing "14th ST." It’s so simple, almost banal, yet it captures something essential about the city. The texture of the film itself—the grain, the slight imperfections—adds so much depth. It reminds me of the work of someone like Cy Twombly, who also found beauty in the raw, imperfect marks of process. Frank's willingness to embrace the accidental, the fleeting, makes this piece so compelling. It’s not about perfection; it’s about capturing the messy, vibrant energy of the city.