Bus 4A 1955

Robert Frank created this contact sheet entitled "Bus 4A," using gelatin silver print. The form of the contact sheet displays the many images he took while riding the bus. The format of the contact sheet is interesting, revealing Frank’s shooting process. It comments on the role of the photographer as someone who captures multiple perspectives. What visual choices might they decide to make in the final edit? We see a slice of mid-century America through the window. The unedited sheet gives us a feeling of immediacy, like glancing over the artist’s shoulder. Understanding Frank's work requires us to look at archives and consider the way that the photographer acts as an archivist. By looking at different archives, personal and institutional, we can have a better understanding of the cultural and social context of this artwork.