New York City no number 1954

This is Robert Frank's "New York City no number," a photographic contact sheet printed on paper. Looking at these frames all together, I start to imagine the artist out walking in the city. Was he like me, when I'm out painting, just constantly looking, responding, shifting? He's got a camera in his hand, and he's trying to work out what this thing does. Is it like a diary? Or is it supposed to be art? He seems to be asking a lot of questions. I love how the images feel kind of personal, like sketches in a notebook, glimpses of people and scenes in New York. There’s a softness here; the light falls just so, and even though it’s black and white, I sense so much. He’s talking to other photographers, for sure, but maybe he’s also having a quiet conversation with painters, who are always trying to capture a feeling, a mood, a moment. It's all about that sense of curiosity and process.