Madison Avenue--New York City no number c. early 1950s

This is a contact sheet of Robert Frank's photos taken on Madison Avenue in New York City. You know, I am really interested in artmaking as a process, and here you see it laid bare; it's like the artist is saying "here are all the different stages I went through to get to the final piece". Each frame is a world in itself, and all together they make up the busy street life, dark shadows and the hustle. I wonder what Frank was thinking when he took these shots? The texture comes from the graininess of the film, creating a sense of immediacy. It’s like you are right there with him, witnessing the city unfold. This reminds me a bit of what Moholy-Nagy was doing with his photograms, abstracting everyday reality through darkroom experimentation. Ultimately, though, it's all about the conversation between artists, the push and pull, and the endless possibilities of seeing.