Skier--Sports 1941 - 1945

Robert Frank made this gelatin silver print, titled "Skier--Sports," sometime during his career. Frank, a Swiss-American photographer, is best known for his raw, documentary-style images of American life in the 1950s. This photo, though less overtly political than some of his other work, still captures a sense of isolation and alienation. The skier stands at the entrance to a dark tunnel, his face unsmiling. The composition frames the skier against the imposing, man-made structure, hinting at the ambiguous relationship between humanity and the natural world. To fully understand Frank's work, one has to consider the social and cultural context in which he was operating. His photographs often critiqued the conformist values of postwar America. Examining Frank's personal letters and other documentary sources can shed light on his intentions and the broader cultural forces that shaped his art. Ultimately, appreciating art requires a sensitivity to the society that produced it.