11th Street story 25 1951

This is "11th Street Story 25" by Robert Frank, and it's a photograph, or rather a collection of them, contact sheets that seem to document the everyday street life. The greyscale palette here is so interesting; it’s raw, immediate, and full of contrast. The images are presented as they were made, mistakes and all. Frank isn't hiding the process of taking photographs, he is sharing it with us. Look at how the light and shadow play in each frame, some are dark and obscured while others are sharp and clear. Notice the big number '25' scrawled across the middle, cutting through the image, it’s a physical reminder of the artist’s hand at work. The composition and subject matter here remind me of the work of Garry Winogrand, but also artists like Helen Levitt. They all shared an interest in the poetry of everyday life. In the end, art is just a conversation between artists, always asking questions, never giving easy answers.