Pull My Daisy 1959

Robert Frank shot this photograph, Pull My Daisy, with a camera and film sometime in the mid-20th century. It's an image in two parts, held together, seemingly accidentally, by the black border of the film itself. The subjects are arranged to look like a film still, hinting at a larger, unseen narrative. The grainy texture and stark contrasts add a raw, documentary feel. Look at the way the American flag drapes awkwardly in the upper portion, its symbolism almost suffocating the figures. Then in the second portion, the way the guys slump on the couch, it feels like he has caught them in a moment of downtime, or maybe despondency. Frank’s approach reminds me a bit of Walker Evans, but with a more spontaneous and less formal edge. Both were interested in capturing the everyday, but Frank brings in a sense of lived experience that feels both intimate and detached. Ultimately, this photograph resists easy answers, inviting us to consider the complexities of American identity.