Brattleboro, Vermont 1979

Robert Frank created this piece, "Brattleboro, Vermont," in 1979 by arranging three photographs and applying paint to the surface. Frank was a Swiss-American photographer and filmmaker whose work often explored themes of alienation, dislocation, and the complexities of American identity. Here, three photographs capture fragmented moments within a domestic space. The central image, almost a void, contrasts sharply with the graffiti scrawled on the left, a desperate plea, perhaps reflecting the emotional turmoil of those within the frame. To the right, a woman stares, her gaze direct, challenging. The television sets in each photograph glow like beacons, yet seem unable to fill the emotional gaps between the figures. Frank was quoted as saying, "You always have to remember that the work is only as good as the person is." This piece challenges conventional representations of family and domesticity, instead offering a raw, unflinching glimpse into the struggles of human connection and the search for meaning in a world saturated with media. It embodies the search for love, hope, and connection amidst a backdrop of personal and societal turbulence.