Filming Elia Kazan's "Wild River"--Tennessee 22 Possibly 1959

Robert Frank took this photograph, "Filming Elia Kazan's 'Wild River'--Tennessee 22," using black and white film. As the title indicates, this image captures the making of a film. We see the rough-and-ready reality of a movie set, in stark contrast to the polished product that would eventually appear on screen. The film strip format emphasizes the role of the photographer as a kind of worker himself, documenting the labor of others. The texture of the black and white film gives the images a gritty, documentary feel. Frank's choice of this medium, with its inherent limitations, serves to highlight the social realities of the scene he is capturing. The figures are framed by the built environment, with modest housing and rural landscapes that are emblematic of the socio-political struggles of the time. The cumulative effect is a powerful reminder of the relationship between art, labor, and social context. Ultimately, the photograph serves as a reminder that art is not created in a vacuum, but is deeply intertwined with the social, economic, and political realities of its time.