Man pulling cart, Paris 1951

Robert Frank made this gelatin silver print of a man pulling a cart in Paris, but its date is unknown. It’s all about process with Frank, especially the way he seems to grab images from life, almost by accident. The grainy texture and subdued tones create a melancholic, almost blurry view. The photograph is heavily reliant on grayscale, and the contrast is subtle and soft, with no pure blacks or whites. The greys blend, creating a sense of depth. Look at the road the man is walking on, the wet asphalt. The surface almost shimmers and ripples, obscuring any reflection. It is the most resolved part of the photo, and a perfect example of Frank’s vision as a street photographer. Frank captures the way light interacts with surfaces, the way the world is not only seen but felt. Frank seems to take inspiration from Walker Evans, but also looks forward to the gritty realism of photographers like Nan Goldin. There's a feeling that Frank just wandered into this scene. It’s that kind of raw, immediate quality that makes his work so compelling, and so endlessly open to interpretation.