Man with child holding flowers, Paris 1951

Robert Frank’s “Man with child holding flowers, Paris” is a photograph printed on a 25.3 x 20.3 cm sheet. Look at the way that Frank embraces the grainy texture, using it as a way to create a sense of atmosphere. The composition is so important here – the way he frames the figures from behind as they recede into the distance. The dark tones of the man’s coat are echoed in the shadows on the wet pavement, while the child’s lighter clothing suggests a sense of hope or innocence. Those flowers the child carries make a beautiful contrast. I am reminded of Atget, another photographer of Paris whose work captured the beauty of the everyday. Frank’s work reminds us that art is not about perfection, but about capturing a feeling, a moment in time. Ultimately, he teaches us that art is a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas across time.