J.L.A. II c. mid to late 1950s

Robert Frank created "J.L.A. II" using a roll of Kodak safety film, a material deeply embedded in the history of 20th-century photography and mass media. The filmstrip format showcases Frank's working process, with each frame capturing fleeting moments from everyday life. Its materiality influences the image's appearance, revealing a grainy texture and stark contrast characteristic of black-and-white film. The photographic process, from capturing the image to developing the film, involved a blend of technical skill and artistic vision. Frank's engagement with photography challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and documentary, blurring the lines between personal expression and social commentary. The use of film and the act of photographing inherently involve labor, from the manufacturing of the film itself to the photographer's work in capturing and developing the images. In this way, "J.L.A. II" speaks to broader issues of labor, politics, and consumption in postwar America.