Valencia, Spain 2 1952

This is Valencia, Spain 2, by Robert Frank, a contact sheet of photographs. It’s a collection of moments, a process laid bare, not unlike a painter’s preliminary sketch. I find myself drawn to the segment in the lower right corner, framed in red. It captures two figures, maybe children, in what seems like a doorway or small room. The scene is simple, almost stark, but there’s an intimacy, a quiet story unfolding that’s compelling. The grainy texture of the black and white film adds to the feeling, it gives it a timeless feel. Frank, like many great artists, isn’t afraid to show you the nuts and bolts, the underbelly of the creative act. Think of Daido Moriyama’s raw, high-contrast street photography, there’s a similar feeling of immediacy. It’s all about the process, the journey, not just the polished end result. And in that, there’s a certain beauty.