Subway no number 1955

Robert Frank created this photogram, "Subway no number," using gelatin silver on paper. In this work, the artist imitates a roll of film, presenting the viewer with a series of moments in a subway. Frank was a Swiss photographer who immigrated to the United States in 1947. In 1955, he began a two-year project to photograph life in the United States, supported by a Guggenheim Fellowship. “The Americans,” a book of photographs he published in 1958, is considered one of the most influential photography books of the 20th century. His photographs presented a stark and often critical view of American society, addressing issues such as racism and poverty. He was criticized at the time for being anti-American. To better understand Frank's work and its reception, it's helpful to look at contemporary publications and reviews, as well as the social and political climate of the 1950s in the United States. The meaning of this art is contingent on its historical context.