Women in hats--San Francisco 1956

Robert Frank made this photograph, Women in Hats—San Francisco, using black and white film, at an undetermined time. It’s a group portrait, and it's fascinating how he captures a mood through the subtleties of monochrome. Look at the woman on the right, her fur stole and the slightly blurred texture of the fur create a sense of tactile richness. The light catches the hairs, giving it a soft, almost dreamy quality. It's like Frank is not just showing us what they look like, but how these women want to be seen. The way he plays with light and shadow is key, it’s almost like he is trying to scratch beneath the surface. This makes me think of Garry Winogrand. He had that same knack for capturing the feeling of a particular moment in time, with all its messiness and beauty. Art, at its best, is about that kind of conversation, isn't it?