Parade c. 1945

Robert Frank created this gelatin silver print, called Parade, at an unknown date. Imagine being there, shoulder to shoulder, a sea of flags blurring the backdrop of buildings into a hazy memory. It’s a dance of bodies and banners, each ripple a heartbeat in the collective rhythm. What was he thinking, I wonder, as he clicked the shutter? Probably like me: How do you capture that feeling, that thrum of human energy? It is a painting in grayscale; the image feels like a rough sketch, capturing movement like a flurry of marks on canvas. See how the flags aren’t just objects? They’re extensions of arms, of voices, of shared purpose. Frank shows us that the moment is fleeting, a parade that marches on, leaving echoes in its wake. Like life, I guess. Like art.