Untitled (Antiques) c. 1958

Robert Frank made this image with his camera, at some point, in an antiques store. The photograph is mostly tonal, a real study in grey! It makes me wonder about the light in the store at that time. I can almost smell that mix of polish and dust you get in places piled high with old things. It’s interesting to watch the woman’s hand as she opens the little drawer. What's she thinking? Is she looking for something specific, or just enjoying the feel of the old wood? Maybe she's imagining the hands that opened it a century ago, reaching in and taking out their treasures and secrets. The pearls at her neck catch the light, they’re almost glowing. The other woman, a friend perhaps, is close by, whispering, sharing a confidence. I can’t help but think about the many ways in which photography captures a moment, freezing it, but also opening it up.