Paris 39B 1951 - 1952

Robert Frank made this gelatin silver print, Paris 39B, sometime in the mid-twentieth century. It's a contact sheet with rows of small images, film edges and numbers visible, plus some blue marker scribbled on it. When I look at this piece, I imagine Frank in his darkroom, surrounded by the scent of chemicals and the soft glow of the safelight. I bet he was sifting through rolls of negatives, searching for that one perfect frame that speaks to him. It's like when I'm in my studio trying to find just the right gesture, wiping away painting, and painting again. I love seeing the outtakes and the process, the range of possibilities, and the choices that eventually lead to a final image. Film strips feel very diaristic to me. There are cafe scenes, and city streets, and I can imagine him wandering Paris, trying to capture the essence of the place and time. Just like painters, photographers are trying to capture the feeling of light, and it's so interesting to see how Frank does it here.