Guggenheim 705--Rodeo, Casper, Wyoming 1956

Robert Frank’s photographic contact sheet presents us with multiple frames of a rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, each a stark interplay of light and shadow captured on film. The formal structure, dictated by the grid of images, organizes our perception, leading us through sequential moments of the event. Frank disrupts any romantic vision of the American West. The contrast, sometimes harsh, renders figures and objects with an unvarnished realism. Look at how the composition within each frame varies—some tightly cropped, others offering a broader context. The film strip as an artistic form draws attention to the act of seeing, framing, and ordering reality. Each image captures different moments, from the rodeo to the spectators watching and how Frank selects which images to highlight. Frank challenges conventional narrative structures, inviting us to question the stories we tell ourselves about culture and identity. These images become signs within a larger semiotic system, reflecting the cultural codes and power dynamics inherent in American society. This piece serves as a powerful commentary on the role of the photographer in shaping our understanding of the world.