Guggenheim 441/Americans 61--Los Angeles 1955 - 1956

Curator: Editor: Here we have Robert Frank's "Guggenheim 441/Americans 61—Los Angeles," created between 1955 and 1956. What strikes me immediately is how this piece unveils the artist's process with the uncut roll of film—highlighted and crossed out, which feels raw. What's your take? Curator: It's fascinating, isn't it? Consider the materiality here. This isn't just a photograph, it's a gelatin-silver print, an object meticulously crafted. We are forced to look at how the photograph was made, and consider Frank's physical engagement with the medium, marking it up. What do you think this emphasizes about his artistic vision? Editor: I suppose that by leaving the markings in view, Frank transforms his role from just photographer to craftsman or maker... Did the societal norms influence why he might mark the film this way? Curator: Absolutely. Post-war consumerism fueled a desire for pristine imagery, perfect surfaces, and idealized representations. Frank subverts that. He exposes the imperfections, the selections, the very act of making, reflecting a rejection of manufactured perfection and maybe also the labor involved. What else catches your eye regarding materiality and method? Editor: The editing itself... It almost feels like a statement on labor, his labor, or perhaps a comment on the repetitive labor within urban landscapes that he seemed to have captured... Thanks for pointing that out, I will definitely remember that! Curator: Remember, understanding the material and means of production gives us deeper insight into the artist's message and the social context in which they were working. I, for one, gained new insight by reconsidering the artistic statement.