Guggenheim 374--Gallup, New Mexico 1955

Robert Frank’s “Guggenheim 374--Gallup, New Mexico” is made with photographic film, and the means of production that implies: the camera, darkroom, and ultimately the artist’s eye. The material of the film is crucial here; these are not posed studio shots, but glimpses of the world captured on the fly. Frank was Swiss, an outsider in America, and his photographs often have a stark, off-kilter quality. You get the sense of a society on the move, churning itself up. The contact sheet format gives us an insight into Frank’s process. This is not about the single perfect shot, but rather a compilation of impressions. The red grease pencil markings on the film are significant, representing the artist's editing choices, a physical engagement with the material. By showing his working method so directly, Frank expanded the possibilities of photography, aligning it with more hands-on creative practices. It’s a powerful reminder that even in the age of mechanical reproduction, the artist's hand – and mind – remains central.