Guggenheim 768--Ashland and Shenandoah, Pennsylvania 1956

Robert Frank made this photograph in Pennsylvania using black and white film. It captures images of daily life in the United States, aiming to capture the social landscape. The work's raw and unfiltered style challenges the idealised images of American life often presented in mainstream media. Frank, a Swiss immigrant, brought an outsider's perspective to the project, questioning the mythology of the American Dream, and documenting a nation grappling with issues of race, class, and consumerism. Frank received a Guggenheim Fellowship to support this project, highlighting the role of institutions in shaping artistic production. The images in this strip reflect everyday life. Frank's photographs are a valuable resource for historians because they invite us to look critically at the institutions and social structures that shape our perception of the United States.