Museum of Modern Art--New York City S5 1958

This is a photographic work by Robert Frank, titled "Museum of Modern Art--New York City S5." Frank worked in a very straightforward way. Using 35mm film, a format popularized in the 20th century for its accessibility and snapshot aesthetic, he captured scenes of everyday life. Here, he shows us the experience of viewing art, rather than a carefully composed or staged image of an artwork itself. The roll of film becomes the artwork. The act of photography itself has social implications. Unlike painting or sculpture, photography opened up the possibility for anyone to record their surroundings. However, the photographer still has agency: in selecting the moment, framing the image, and developing the film. Frank's choice to present the entire roll of film, with its imperfections and variations, challenges the traditional idea of a perfect, singular image. Ultimately, Frank asks us to consider not just what we see in a museum, but how we see, and the choices that shape our perception.