Bowery, New York City 1 1957 - 1959

This gelatin silver print, “Bowery, New York City 1,” was created by Robert Frank. The composition is dominated by strips of film, each segment offering a glimpse into the stark realities of urban life. The high contrast between light and shadow not only defines the forms within each frame, but also underscores a sense of alienation. Note how the arrangement of film strips challenges traditional photographic presentation by exposing the raw, unedited process of image-making. This disruption rejects the notion of a singular, polished truth, aligning with Frank's broader critique of social norms. By presenting the film strips as a whole, Frank subverts the conventional photographic narrative, suggesting a world of fragmented stories. This aligns with post-structuralist ideas about destabilizing fixed meanings, inviting us to question the nature of representation itself. The film strips are not merely photographs; they are components of a larger statement about the complexities and contradictions inherent in documenting reality.