Mary, Pablo, and Andrea--Los Angeles 1956

Robert Frank captured this photograph of Mary, Pablo, and Andrea in Los Angeles at an undetermined date. Frank's gritty style is evident; it’s not about perfect lighting or poses, but rather the feeling of a moment. The way Frank uses light and shadow, especially the subtle gradations in the background, gives the image a kind of melancholic weight. Look at the little girl Andrea, her unfocused gaze, her tiny hand near her mouth. It’s all very intimate and a bit unsettling. The graininess of the photograph only adds to this feeling. It's like a memory that's starting to fade, but the emotions are still raw. Frank’s influence on photography is undeniable. You could compare his work to that of Garry Winogrand. Both were street photographers who captured the world as they saw it, without any filters. And just like in painting, these photographs allow us to see the world in new and surprising ways.