Dimensions: sheet: 25.3 x 20.3 cm (9 15/16 x 8 in.)
Copyright: National Gallery of Art: CC0 1.0
Robert Frank made this photograph, "Buildings--Indianapolis", using gelatin silver. The composition's tight, almost claustrophobic. I keep thinking about how that newspaper is plastered on what looks like a mailbox. It's like the city itself is trying to tell you something. The contrast is so stark. The building looms large, a dark monolith against a lighter sky, and the foreground just sucks up the light. I love the way Frank uses black and white. It’s not just about recording what’s there, but transforming it. He shows you how a city feels, not just how it looks. It's a kind of gritty poetry, you know? Like the world's a bit off-kilter, but beautiful because of it. Frank's like a beat poet with a camera, and reminds me a little bit of Garry Winogrand, always chasing that decisive moment, that fleeting truth.
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