Universal Studios--Universal City, California 1956

Robert Frank made this photograph, “Universal Studios—Universal City, California,” using black and white film, and it's a bit like looking through a keyhole into another world. I wonder if, when Robert Frank made this, he felt like a detective. It feels like he was peeking into a room where two figures sit, maybe security guards, framed by a door with a window plastered with notices. It's such an odd moment. I can imagine him seeing these figures and being compelled to capture this strange mundanity. The light is grainy. The contrast feels stark. Think about the choice to frame this scene. Is it a barrier? Is it an invitation? It kind of reminds me of the way we're always looking, searching for something meaningful in the everyday. We’re all just walking around looking through windows, and the surface of the window becomes the art.