New York City 4 1960

This photographic contact sheet, New York City 4, was created by Robert Frank. A painting is built up, mark by mark, and here, Frank gives us all the takes, all the moments. You can see the intervals, the process, all on one sheet. I can imagine Frank in the darkroom, hunched over, the red light casting a glow as he coaxes these images into being. There’s a beautiful tension between spontaneity and control here. What’s in focus? What’s out? How do these images speak to each other? The horse, the figures, the landscape, and the camera become the subjects of his work. This reminds me of a painter like Gerhard Richter, who was interested in how images circulate and how we see them. It’s exciting to see the range of tones, textures, and subjects all in one go. It feels very intimate, like we're looking over Frank’s shoulder as he makes decisions. Artists leave traces and hints in their work, offering us an invitation to be part of the creative process.