Guggenheim 117--New York City 1955

Robert Frank made this photographic collage, Guggenheim 117--New York City, using gelatin silver prints. This piece really shows Frank’s raw approach to photography, like a painter who doesn’t overthink the sketch. The texture here is fascinating, isn't it? The glossy sheen of the film strips contrasts so sharply with the rough, torn edges where they're collaged together. Look at the very bottom, where the strip curls away from the surface; it’s like Frank is trying to show you the guts of his process. That red pen circling certain images, it’s not just a mark, it’s a decision, a conversation he’s having with himself about what matters. Frank reminds me a bit of Walker Evans, capturing America as it is. Both weren’t afraid to show the grit, the everyday, and find a kind of beauty in it. Ultimately, this work isn’t about polished perfection; it's about the messy, beautiful reality of seeing.