Hearn's--New York City no number 1955

This contact sheet, "Hearn's--New York City" by Robert Frank, is from an unknown date and it's a whole other way of seeing the city. It's like Frank is thinking out loud with his camera. The tonality in this sheet is really interesting. The grainy black and white feels raw, like we're seeing something unedited. Look at how he captures people on escalators, that almost chaotic energy of Hearn’s department store. There is a strange mix of movement and stillness, like a flip book of life. It reminds me a little of Garry Winogrand, in the way he just grabbed these moments of everyday life. It’s like he’s saying, "Here's the world, take it or leave it." It's not about perfection, but about showing the messy, beautiful reality of life. Art that makes you feel something real, that’s what sticks with you.