San Yu, Paris--Switzerland 7 1961

Robert Frank made this work, San Yu, Paris-Switzerland 7, with photography. Immediately, what hits you is the raw, almost brutal honesty of the image. The texture isn't glossy or smooth; it's grainy, emphasizing the imperfections and the immediate nature of the moment captured. Look at how Frank uses light. It’s not about perfect exposure. Instead, it’s about the contrast—the way light and shadow play against each other, creating a mood that's both intimate and detached. There's a particular frame, where children are captured; each face tells a different story, caught in expressions that range from curiosity to boredom. You know, this reminds me of Garry Winogrand. Both had this knack for capturing the world as they found it, unvarnished and real. And just like in painting, photography is about seeing and feeling. Frank isn’t just documenting; he’s interpreting and inviting us to feel something too. Isn't that what art's all about?