Melvin Tocker, 6 AM 1951

Robert Frank made this photograph, Melvin Tocker, 6 AM, sometime in the mid-twentieth century. It’s a black and white image, grainy, with soft focus. You can see the city waking up in the background, all blurry and indistinct. But, look at the foreground, where the street cleaner takes center stage. With his cigarillo and work clothes, I imagine the artist being drawn to him, sympathizing with that quiet labor of keeping the city clean. There's a sense of fatigue in his posture, but also strength in the way he holds the broom. The way the light catches on his skin gives the image a sense of intimacy. It reminds me a little of some Walker Evans’ photographs. I bet Frank admired Evans for his capacity to make the everyday feel monumental.