Skiers at camp--Sports 1941 - 1945

Curator: This photograph, "Skiers at camp--Sports," a gelatin silver print by Robert Frank, was likely created between 1941 and 1945. What stands out to you initially about this image? Editor: The high contrast and starkness are immediately striking. It's not a particularly inviting scene despite depicting leisure; there's something quite somber about the tones and the postures of the skiers. Curator: It is a fascinating contrast. While appearing somewhat documentary, the image's production and dissemination speak to the era’s complex negotiation of national identity and leisure activities amidst global conflict, especially as it found space in exhibitions meant to show Americans what was at stake at home and abroad. Editor: Right. The composition certainly contributes. The skis arranged like spears evoke a kind of preparedness and underlying tension. Do you think the skis symbolize this unspoken anticipation of wartime experience? Curator: Possibly. Looking at its stylistic echoes of social realism, it seems probable that Frank aims to evoke a certain ideal. These aren't just skiers; they're representative figures participating in activities associated with the physical fitness of a national body – not unlike works commissioned under the New Deal or Nazi projects meant to display fitness of mind and body. Editor: The arrangement and symbols feel so charged. And perhaps even more, this composition does feel like a symbol. The dark shadows on the snow read as hardship and resilience, key figures within the narrative of national survival. This connects very deeply to my understanding of national visual cultures and cultural iconography during periods of heightened sociopolitical unrest. Curator: Considering this context, I find the way Robert Frank presents the image incredibly profound. It's as if the snow is both an environment and a visual metaphor for the testing of both collective spirit and fortitude during this period. Editor: It leaves me with a chilling impression. Thinking about its place in time and understanding the symbols, it reveals a nuanced commentary that transcends mere documentation of a ski outing.