Streetcar--Transportation 1941 - 1945

Robert Frank made this gelatin silver print, "Streetcar--Transportation," sometime in the mid-20th century. It captures a street scene likely in Europe, perhaps Frank's native Switzerland, and presents an interesting juxtaposition of the modern and the traditional. Notice how the streetcar and motorcar represent the rise of modern urban transport. They contrast with the looming church, a symbol of enduring social institutions. The blurred figures suggest the anonymity and transience of city life. The Savoy Hotel indicates a certain level of commerce. Frank's photo can be better understood by consulting archives of mid-century urban planning, church records, and hotel registries. We can reflect on how these institutions shaped everyday experience. What was their impact on social class and the way people went about their lives? Was Frank, as a photographer, making any kind of intervention into the social structure? The image demonstrates how even seemingly simple photographs can serve as documents for social and cultural historians.