Delegates, convention hall--Chicago 1956

Robert Frank made this gelatin silver print, “Delegates, convention hall--Chicago,” using readily available materials and processes of photography. Consider the material properties of photography itself: light-sensitive chemicals, a lens, and the alchemic process of development. The grainy texture and high contrast, both technical aspects, also feel like a conscious choice here. This aesthetic distances the image from the slick, highly produced images of commercial advertising of the period. Frank's method involved acute observation and a rapid, intuitive approach, akin to street photography. This suited his project, which sought to reveal the everyday realities of American life beyond the idealized images presented by mainstream media. The signs the delegates hold up, boldly declaring "CAN WIN" are also products of industrial manufacture, churned out in volume. By emphasizing process, we can see how the choices of materials and methods are integral to the artwork's meaning. Frank's photography challenges traditional hierarchies, positioning the everyday, the gritty, and the process-oriented as worthy subjects of artistic attention.