New York City no number 1951

Robert Frank made this photographic contact sheet, ‘New York City no number’, using silver gelatin. The process itself is laid bare, isn’t it? Looking at this sheet, I notice the way Frank embraces chance and the raw energy of the street. The blacks are rich and the greys so soft, almost like charcoal. There’s a gritty texture to the whole thing, and it's far from pristine. It reminds me of the way Cy Twombly would leave drips and scribbles, each mark telling a story of its making. And in the bottom row, the way the images almost melt into each other, creating a blurry, dreamlike effect. These moments aren’t mistakes, but intentional gestures that invite us to slow down and see the world differently. Frank’s process reminds me that art isn’t about perfection. It's about embracing the unexpected and finding beauty in the everyday.