Zurich 1945

Robert Frank made this photograph, Zurich, using film and a camera, at some point in his life. It's a blurry image of a political rally, all grey and grainy, like a memory half-forgotten. The surface of the photograph feels rough, immediate. It's not about perfection; it’s about capturing a moment, a feeling. Look at the banner, the way the words are slightly smeared. It's like Frank is saying, "This is it, this is what it felt like to be there." The light flickers across the image, catching the edges of the flags, but leaving the faces in shadow. Think about the flags, how they loom over the crowd. They're not crisp and clean, they're heavy, burdened by the weight of their symbolism. It reminds me a bit of Walker Evans, that same honesty, that refusal to pretty things up. It's a document, but it's also a feeling, a mood, a question. What does it mean to be part of something bigger than yourself?