Wintergarden--San Francisco 1956

Robert Frank made this photograph, Wintergarden—San Francisco, using gelatin silver print. The print is mostly silver, but with some darker accents. Look at the range of faces framed by those numbered seats. The photograph is so textural; you can feel the fuzziness of the hats and the grain of the film. It is visceral. There is a stark contrast between the figures and the stark background. The man in seat ten is particularly striking. His smile is magnetic, and his hat has a very distinct shadow. Frank's work reminds me a bit of Garry Winogrand’s street photography, capturing everyday life with a raw, unvarnished eye. It’s like they’re both saying, "Here's the world, take it or leave it," but you can’t help but take it, because it’s real. Art doesn’t always need to be pretty; sometimes it just needs to be true.