From the bus 74B 1958

Robert Frank made this gelatin silver print, *From the bus 74B*, in what looks like a series of experiments with a camera. I like the way he’s letting the medium do its thing, embracing the process of image-making. The monochrome palette isn’t just black and white, there are many shades of grey, which creates the atmosphere. Each frame shows the physicality of the light as it hits the street. Look at the top row, the 6th cell. The blackness around the edges makes it so moody, like a memory you can’t quite grasp. The texture feels gritty, you can almost smell the city, which makes the whole thing feel super immediate. Frank reminds me of Helen Levitt, capturing those street scenes with an unvarnished eye. It’s not about perfection, it's about feeling, and that’s what makes it so alive. Art’s not about answers, it’s about asking the questions.