South America and Spain 5 1948

Curator: Up next, let’s explore Robert Frank’s "South America and Spain 5", a gelatin silver print from 1948. It offers a contact sheet glimpse into his early photographic wanderings. Editor: It feels a bit like riffling through someone's memories. I get this incredible sense of movement, like a travel journal filled with fleeting impressions. Is that intended, to present so many variations simultaneously? Curator: Exactly. What Frank achieves here, I think, is presenting photography in its rawest form. It’s not about the perfect image but about the process. We're given not a single composed shot but a constellation of possible views, captured on a strip. Observe the sequencing, it offers insight to how the photographer experiences these bustling locales. Editor: The sequencing is interesting! Look at frames 22, 23 and 24 - we jump from a portrait shot to some urban scene in bright light before finding ourselves back at some blurred street scenes. There's definitely an improvisational quality at work; how does this inform Frank's signature style? Curator: Frank rejected conventional photographic rules. The uncropped frames with their visible sprocket holes, the contrast and sometimes blurry effects-- all fight against this clinical 'perfection.' He creates photographs infused with honesty, grit and vulnerability. These features would heavily influence his later and now well regarded works. Editor: Considering he began making photos professionally so young, you could interpret this photograph as representing Frank finding his visual vocabulary and his overall ethos as a photographer. One may interpret it as somewhat chaotic, however, these strips offer this sort of "behind-the-scenes" perspective on artistic development, don't they? Curator: Indeed. These photographic "errors," so to speak, ended up becoming an integral part of his style. We gain insight into his work through both seeing how his "South America and Spain" shots reflect his interests in urban life. I hope you have enjoyed reflecting on this photo strip with me! Editor: It certainly felt akin to walking through a time capsule! Thanks for opening my eyes.