14e arrondissement 1951 - 1952

This photograph, 14e arrondissement, was captured by Robert Frank sometime in the mid-20th century. It’s a moment frozen in time, a street scene with a flower seller. The tones are soft, almost gentle, which is interesting, considering Frank’s work often has a tougher edge. The beauty of a photograph lies in its texture, its ability to capture detail. Look at the woman's face, etched with character. The softness in her eyes, the detail in her hands as she holds the flowers. Then contrast that with the sharp lines of the buildings behind, the crispness of the signage. There's a lot of information in there. Frank's work often explored the everyday, the overlooked. There's a tenderness in this image that reminds me of Helen Levitt's street photography. Both artists knew how to find poetry in the ordinary, to remind us that beauty exists in the unexpected corners of life. The fact that it’s a photograph, and not a painting, is less important than the mood it creates.